Burden and subsequent changes perceived by fathers of very-low-birth-weight infants admitted to the NICU: Focus on fathers and their roles within the family

Abstract

 The objective of this study was to elucidate the changes over time and perceived burden in fathers of very-low-birth-weight infants admitted to the NICU, based on statements by the fathers. The nine fathers in this study underwent semi-structured interviews. Based on graphs drawn by the fathers that showed changes in their perception of burden, the burden they felt was categorized into two perspectives. A qualitative analysis extracted 8 categories, including “wives and children being hospitalized”, “role of supporting family cohesiveness by mitigating stress in the family”, “parenting children”, and “housekeeping role”. The perception of burden among fathers was highest starting when the wives were admitted to the hospital. Various roles overlapped, including concerns about the newborn child, emotional support for the wives and older children, household chores, and trying to balance work and visiting hours. In addition, factors that influenced the perception of burden were whether the newborns were twins and the presence or absence of older siblings. This study highlighted the importance of the kind of support that ⅰ) takes into consideration the stages and individual backgrounds while also focusing on strengths and ⅱ) takes into account the fathers’ feelings.