Perceived Needs of Parents of Premature Infants Hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

A BSTRACT Background: Understanding parents’ perceived needs is essential for improving both parental well-being and infant outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 200 parents (100 mothers and 100 fathers) of premature infants who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for at least 48 h. Participants were recruited using sequential sampling. Parents completed the NICU Family Needs Inventory (NFNI), a 56-item questionnaire assessing five domains: assurance, comfort, information, proximity, and support. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, one-way analysis of variance, and independent t -tests. Results: The mean (standard deviation [SD]) scores for the domains of the NFNI were assurance – 44.35 (3.29), comfort – 22.16 (0.61), proximity – 28.80 (0.82), support – 57.82 (2.39), and information – 38.67 (3.90). The total mean (SD) score was 191.73 (18.7). The results showed that parents’ perceived needs were correlated with parents’ sex and age. Specifically, mothers (196.20 ± 16.30) reported significantly higher mean needs than fathers (187.59 ± 20.06) ( P < 0.001). In addition, parents under 25 years had significantly higher perceived needs (195.80 ± 11.15) ( P = 0.019). Conclusion: The findings underscore the critical importance of addressing parents’ assurance and information needs among NICU-hospitalized premature infants, particularly among younger parents who may require additional support. Family-centered care interventions tailored to these needs may reduce parental stress, enhance parent–infant bonding, and improve satisfaction with care. Healthcare providers should prioritize effective communication and emotional support to meet these essential parental needs.