Endangered parent-child bonding in neonatology

Background and objective. Premature infants often require prolonged care in a neonatal unit and are therefore separated from their parents. Factors that promote and hinder parent-child bonding from the perspective of parents and professionals have hardly been described. Methods. A qualitative study was conducted in a university centre hospital in Switzerland with affected parents and professionals. The parents (7 women, 2 men) were interviewed individually and in pairs. The professionals (n = 125) were sent the FINC-na questionnaire to complete online. In addition, interviews were conducted with selected professionals (12 women, 2 men). Transcribed interview data was analysed in terms of content and themes. Sociodemographic and FINC-na data were statistically analysed using R. Results. Nine individual parents (7 women, 2 men) were interviewed. The results showed that parents have to find their role and feel as if they are living in two worlds. Almost half of the professionals contacted (45%) completed the online version of the FINC-na in full. In addition, n = 14 people (12 women, 2 men) were questioned in individual and group interviews. For the professionals, dealing with parents who were present was challenging, especially when staff resources were scarce. Conclusion and implications for practice. The child's state of health and structural conditions influence the development of attachment. On neonatal units, opportunities for physical parental closeness should be found regularly and often. It is also necessary to encourage parents to care for the child independently. It is essential that professionals develop a positive attitude towards involving parents.