Chart 2. Overview of characteristics identified and extracted from the included articles in the study (N = 21).
| Title/Reference | Year/ Country |
Design | Outcome | Level of Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recém-nascido prematuro: suporte materno domiciliar para o cuidado (19) | 2012 Brazil |
Descriptive Study | At home, mothers of premature newborns had questions about handling colic, the number of bowel movements, and sun exposure. To address their uncertainties and overcome feelings of fear and insecurity in performing certain tasks, they sought health professionals and consulted the guidebook provided at the time of hospital discharge. | VI |
| Gaining confidence and perspective: a phenomenological study of mothers’ lived experiences caring for infants at home after neonatal unit discharge(20) | 2012 Canada |
Phenomenological Study | In the home setting, mothers were anxious about the fragile health of their premature infants and were concerned about their well-being. Using instinct and a trial-and-error approach, they tried to identify their baby’s needs and signs of pain or discomfort. | VI |
| Experiência materna no cuidado domiciliar ao recém-nascido prematuro (21) | 2012 Brazil |
Qualitative Study | For home care, mothers of premature infants expressed the need for guidance on child development, breathing, vaccination, breastfeeding, and the preparation and administration of medications. | VI |
| Alta hospitalar e o cuidado do recém-nascido prematuro no domicílio: vivência materna (22) | 2013 Brazil |
Qualitative Study | The mothers’ experiences during the first week of home care following the hospital discharge of their premature newborns were marked by questions about bathing, signs of sickness, and other information not provided by professionals upon discharge. | VI |
| Prematuro: Experiência materna durante amamentação em unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal e pós-alta (23) | 2013 Brazil |
Qualitative Study | At home, mothers had questions about continuing breastfeeding and the subsequent feeding regimen for the premature newborn. | VI |
| Caring for premature child at home: from fear and doubt to trust(24) | 2014 Colombia | Phenomenological Study | The first night that mothers spent at home caring for their child was long, filled with anguish and uncertainties. By the next morning, they felt exhausted, filled with questions and concerns, fearing that their child might have lost weight or developed a complication that would require re-admission. | VI |
| Ações de enfermagem na assistência domiciliar ao recém-nascido de muito baixo peso (25) | 2014 Brazil |
Qualitative Study | Mothers’ concerns during the daily care of the premature baby at home centered around hygiene, comfort, and recognizing signs and symptoms that appeared after the hospital discharge. | VI |
| Life after discharge: what parents of preterm infants say about their transition to home(26) | 2016 USA |
Qualitative Study | Uncertainties about breastfeeding, caring for the premature newborn at home without professional supervision, and finding reliable information sources led to stress, worry, and anxiety. | VI |
| Preparing for post-discharge care of premature infants: Experiences of parents (27) | 2017 Colombia |
Qualitative Study | The findings emphasize the importance of creating institutional follow-up programs to ease the transition of the premature baby to the home setting. The value of family follow-up and the ability to contact the healthcare unit by phone for queries were highlighted as beneficial aspects of home care. | VI |
| Theory of infants’ transition management from then neonatal intensive care unit to home: a qualitative study(28) | 2017 Iran |
Qualitative Study - Grounded Theory | Typically, mothers of premature infants are not prepared to care for their children immediately postpartum. Once home, the mothers’ primary concern was the survival of their premature child, who had previously been under professional supervision in the hospital. | VI |
| Percepção das mães quanto à competência materna nos cuidados domiciliares do recém-nascido prematuro (29) | 2018 Brazil |
Phenomenological Study | It was found that mothers of premature newborns have insufficient knowledge for home care of their child, especially when without the assistance of a healthcare professional, leading to feelings of fear and insecurity even in the face of common newborn complications. | VI |
| Aleitamento materno exclusivo de prematuros e motivos para sua interrupção no primeiro mês pós-alta hospitalar (30) | 2019 Brazil |
Cross-sectional Study | It was observed that the lack of guidance for the mother might be related to the weaning of the premature newborn after hospital discharge. | VI |
| Dúvidas maternas na alta hospitalar do recém-nascido (31) | 2019 Brazil |
Quantitative Descriptive Study | The majority of mothers stated they were not prepared to care for their child (60.1%). The most frequently mentioned uncertainties were about bathing (60%) and breastfeeding (56.7%). | VI |
| Vivência materna com o Método Canguru no domicílio (32) | 2020 Brazil |
Qualitative Study | Mothers experienced feelings of fear and insecurity during the home phase of the Kangaroo Method and mentioned a lack of guidance provided by health professionals. They face daily challenges, such as temperature control of the premature newborn, breastfeeding, identifying colic, and the importance of the Kangaroo position at home. | VI |
| Oportunidades de cuidados à criança prematura: visita domiciliar e suporte telefônico (33) | 2020 Brazil |
Qualitative Study | Mothers’ questions regarding care included feeding, bathing, diaper changing, stool characteristics, clinical changes, referrals to specialists, and the need for tests. | VI |
| Vulnerabilidades para a criança prematura:contextos domiciliar e institucional (34) | 2020 Brazil |
Qualitative Study | Home experiences with the premature baby led to concerns related to breastfeeding, signs of clinical changes, and fears of possible re-hospitalization. | VI |
| Mothers’ experiences of caring for preterm babies at home: qualitative insights from an urban setting in a middle-income country(35) | 2021 Ghana |
Qualitative Study | Mothers expressed uncertainties about feeding the premature baby, temperature control, infection prevention, and reported difficulties in balancing child care with household chores. | VI |
| Conhecimento de mães sobre cuidados aos recém-nascidos prematuros e aplicação do Método Canguru no domicílio (36) | 2021 Brazil |
Qualitative Study | There were observed strengths and weaknesses in the care of the premature newborn and in the implementation of the Kangaroo Method at home. The main questions from mothers were about warning signs for complications. | VI |
| A Study of Maternal Competence in Preterm Birth Condition, during the Transition from Hospital to Home: An Early Intervention Program’s Proposal(37) | 2021 Italy |
Quantitative Study | There was a trend towards undermining maternal competence in terms of the ability to care for the premature newborn in the post-discharge period. When mothers realize they don’t understand the true meaning of their child’s signals, an essential condition to feel confident in seeking solutions and making decisions, they can become extremely distressed. |
IV |
| Demandas de aprendizagem de famílias sobre cuidados pós-natais aos recém-nascidos (38) | 2021 Brazil |
Qualitative Study | There were evident misunderstandings and incorrect practices related to intimate hygiene, diaper changing, bathing, cleaning of the umbilical stump, use of products on the premature baby’s skin, and breastfeeding. | VI |
| Cuidados com o recém-nascido prematuro após a alta hospitalar: investigação das demandas familiares (39) | 2021 Brazil |
Qualitative Study | Questions from mothers and relatives were highlighted concerning feeding, hygiene, sleep, and the presence of clinical changes. | VI |