Volume: 2 Issue: 1
Year: 2025, Page: 27-33, Doi: https://doi.org/10.71325/ajjms.v2i1.24.7
Received: July 22, 2024 Accepted: Jan. 2, 2025 Published: March 31, 2025
Introduction: Pregnancy and childbirth are two of a woman's most important life milestones. A preterm delivery can negatively affect a family's structure since it requires the parents to change their daily routine and adapt to new obligations. One of the most important factors affecting the psychological health of postpartum mothers of preterm infants and the general health of the mother and child is the perception of social support. The purpose of this study is to determine the degree of social support that postpartum mothers of premature babies admitted to the NICU receive. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used to assess the level of social support of 75 post-natal mothers of preterm infants admitted to the NICU who were chosen using the purposive sampling method. The required data was collected using a sociodemographic profile and a multidimensional scale of perceived social support. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests such as mean, frequency, percentage, mean percentage, and Fisher exact. Results: The study found that the majority (85.3%) of mothers had a high level of social support. According to the area-wise research, the majority of mothers received social support from all three categories, including family, friends, and significant others received 79.6%, 73.9%, and 79.6%, respectively. Conclusion: The study of social support among postnatal mothers of preterm infants admitted to the NICU found that the majority of these women receive extensive support from friends, family, and significant others. This research emphasizes the critical role that a strong social network plays in mothers' well-being during the difficult postnatal period, especially when their infants require urgent medical care. High social support can dramatically reduce stress and promote better mental health outcomes for mothers, hence improving the care and development of their preterm infants.
Keywords: Social support, Postnatal mothers, Preterm infants
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© 2025 Published by Laxmi Memorial Education Trust. This is an open-access article under CC BY 4.0 license. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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