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Abstract

Background:Parents of neonates admitted to the NICU often experience heightened psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and feelings of helplessness. Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing effective support systems to improve parental well-being and coping mechanisms.
Objective:To assess the psychological impact on parents of children admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.
Materials & Methods: This study aimed to assess the mental health of 219 parents whose newborns were admitted to the NICU at Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute in Chengalpattu. We employed a cross-sectional study design. To evaluate the parents' mental health, we utilized the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised. Qualitative factors will be presented as proportions, while quantitative variables will be expressed using mean, standard deviation, median, and interquartile range. All data analysis will be conducted using SPSS version 21.
Results: This study included children with a mean age of 3 ± 1.5 days. The parents' mean ages were 24 ± 2.8 years for mothers and 29 ± 1.7 years for fathers. A significant proportion of parents experienced anxiety, with 72% showing signs of anxiety. Additionally, 13% of participants were found to be suffering from depression, and 20% of parents have a significant chance of suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Conclusion:The NICU improves neonatal survival but often leaves parents feeling neglected, leading to anxiety (72%), depression (13%), and PTSD (20%). Counselling, transparent communication, and involving parents in care can reduce stress. Government-backed insurance schemes could ease financial and psychological burdens