Raliphaswa S N
University of Venda, South Africa
Title: Challenges faced by mothers during the hospitalization of their children at one public hospital in Vhembe district, South Africa
Biography
Biography: Raliphaswa S N
Abstract
Admission of a child to the unit has long been recognized as an emotionally charged and highly stressful experience. Th is can be a traumatic experience for the parents because it may force the family to restructure their lives and re-organize their priorities. Th e objectives of the study were to describe the challenges faced by mothers when their children are hospitalized at one public hospital in Vhembe district. Th e qualitative, explorative and descriptive research design was used. Th e population comprised of mothers whose children were admitted for more than 3 days in the pediatric ward of one public hospital, Vhembe district, Limpopo province, South Africa. A non- probability purposive sampling of 10 mothers were sampled. Data were collected through unstructured in-depth interviews before the mother leaves the hospital aft er discharge until saturation was reached. Data were analyzed by open-coding method. Findings revealed two themes namely; care provided by health care professionals and confl icting expectations about participation in child’s care. Th e study had implications for provision of individualized care to mother and child during hospitalization.
