The experiences of mothers with children hospitalised in a children's emergency unit, Ghana

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to explore the experiences of mothers during their stay with their children when admitted to the Children's Emergency Unit (CEU). An exploratory, descriptive and qualitative design was used to determine the experiences of mothers who stayed in hospital with their children while they were hospitalised. Ten (n = 10) mothers were purposively selected from the CEU. Semi-structured, audio-taped interviews using a general interview guide was the method of data collection. The method used to analyse the data was content analysis. The findings revealed that the majority of mothers tried remedies to treat their children at home and sought professional health care as a last resort. While in hospital, the mothers were obliged to observe and care for their children. Being a cash and carry system, mothers had to pay for almost every service obtained. Stress increased as they stayed with their children. Analysis of factors that increased their stress indicate that financial issues, cost of drugs and food, inadequate facilities, and crowded environment were prominent. The mothers were constantly anxious and worried about their children's condition. These mothers were often ill, especially as the length of stay increased. They coped by accessing various forms of support, such as from family members, friends, one another and their relationship with God.