Abstract:
The study examined effects of psychological distress and coping mechanisms on
maternal wellbeing of preterm mothers. Hundred (100) preterm mothers from the Tema
General Hospital, Police Hospital and SSNIT (Trust) Hospital participated in this study,
sampled in proportions of 73, 18 and 9 respectively. A sequential explanatory mixed
study design was employed and the instruments for collecting quantitative data were the
Kessler 10, the Impact of Event Scale, Brief COPE, Parental Stressor Scale and the
Mental Health Continuum Scale Short Form. Results from the analysis showed that
Problem-focused coping did not show any significant difference when compared to
levels maternal wellbeing. The frail appearance of infant in incubators in Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit and sight and sounds did not significantly predict psychological
distress of preterm mothers and there was a weak negative relationship between
mother‟s psychological distress and maternal wellbeing and also between posttraumatic
stress reaction and maternal wellbeing. There was also a significant positive
relationship between post-traumatic stress reaction and psychological distress.
Demographics (age of mother, days in NICU, marital status) did not moderate the
relationship between psychological distress and maternal wellbeing. The Interpretative
Phenomenological Analysis was used in analysing the qualitative data. Financial
constraints, employment, stay in mothers‟ hostel, fluctuating weight of baby, care of
other children and marital issues were identified as Challenges. Levels of maternal
wellbeing revealed the themes physical and psychological wellbeing. Coping
mechanisms that were identified were prayer, social support and then education of
mothers. The study recommends that Clinical Health Psychologists are needed to bring
about holistic healthcare for preterm mothers particularly as some hospitals had none.
