Uncertainty associated with parents of preterm infants hospitalised in neonatal intensive care unit among selected governmental hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2022: an institution-based cross-sectional study

Objective To assess the uncertainty associated with parents of preterm infants hospitalised in neonatal intensive care units of selected governmental hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2022. Design A cross-sectional study conducted from 3 March 2022 to 30 March 2022. Setting The research was conducted at a government hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Participants Out of 305 eligible participants, 303 were parents of preterm infants' participants with complete data. Primary outcome measure Levels of parental uncertainty, assessed by using the Mishel scale of uncertainty. Simple and multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to assess associations between variables. Results The mean uncertainty expressed by parents was 101.3 (SD=21.12). There were significant associations found with various factors. The sex of the respondent fathers (beta=-4.65, 95% CI -9.32 to -0.025), length of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay >10 days (beta=14.64, 95% CI 8.71 to 20.56), gestational week between 34 and 37 weeks (beta=-7.47, 95% CI -11.42 to -3.52), parents with college degrees and above (beta=-14.15, 95% CI -22.94 to -5.34), parents with neonates who were preterm and had neonatal sepsis (beta=10.42, 95% CI -17.57 to -3.27), parents without a history of neonatal NICU admission (beta=-6.16, 95% CI -11.69 to -0.63) and parents who were housewives (beta=6.51, 95% CI 1.83 to 12.19) all showed significant associations. Conclusion Factors like educational status, gestational week, neonatal admission history and NICU stay length contribute to parental uncertainty. Promoting empathy and clear communication is crucial. Hospitals should develop compassionate protocols for information delivery, including regular updates and effective addressing of concerns. Fostering a supportive environment helps parents express emotions and seek support.