Experience of being a father of preterm infant admitted in neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

The aim of this research was to understand the experience of being a father of preterm infant admitted in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This is a descriptive qualitative study carried out at a public hospital in Fortaleza-Ceará-Brazil, in 2008. Sixteen fathers were interviewed, based on a semi-structured instrument. The results were analyzed and organized in two themes, with their respective categories: paternal experience (happiness, confidence, indecision, and fear), doubts and expectations (sequel, survival and discharge). In spite of the fear facing hospitalization, they demonstrated satisfaction with the possibility of the baby’s survival. They described feelings of indecision, trust in the team and fear, when they reported the experience of being a father of preterm infant. Their greatest doubts and expectations concerning sequels, survival and expectation for their children’s hospital discharge. It was verified the importance of the interaction between father and child in neonatal unit, in order to rescue fathers’ role of caregiver, to facilitate the adaptation and family restructuring.