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Parental perception of neonatal intensive care in public sector hospitals in South Africa


Tushar M Ranchod
Daynia E Ballot
Alma M Martinez
Barbara J Cory
Victor A Davies
J Colin Partridge

Abstract

Background. Little is known about parental experience and decision making with regard to premature  infants requiring intensive care in developing countries. We undertook this study to characterise parents' experience of physician counselling and their role in making life-support decisions for very low-birth-weight (VLBW) (birth weight < 1 501 g) infants born in South Africa's public-sector neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
Methods. Parents of surviving VLBW infants treated in three Johannesburg-area public hospitals and  attending follow-up clinics in August 2001 were interviewed regarding their experience of perinatal  counselling on outcomes (pain, survival, disability), perception of actual and optimal decision making, and satisfaction with NICU communication.
Results. Parents of 51 infants were interviewed. Seventy-five per cent of parents reported antenatal counselling by physicians on at least one perinatal topic (severe disability,pain, death, finances or  religious/moral considerations). The majority of parents(> 60%) who received counselling thought that these topics had been discussed adequately. Most parents reported that doctors had the primary  decisionmaking role, either without consulting them (41 %) or after consulting them (37%). Joint decision making was rare (14%). Parents wanted more input in life-support decisions than they reported being given.
Conclusion. Counselling is not consistently provided in publicsector hospitals in Johannesburg. Parents  of premature infants want a larger share in NICU decision making than they currently experience. Most parents were satisfied with communication later during their infant's hospitalisation. South Africa presents a unique opportunity to study the use of advanced medical technologies in a nation with marked disparities in access to care.

 


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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574