Enablers and challenges of family-centred care for preterm infants in a tertiary health facility in Northern Nigeria: perspective of parents and health workers - a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND

The family-centred care (FCC) is a model that emphasises the active participation of family members in patient care decisions, fostering collaboration and recognising families as vital partners in the healthcare journey, with evidence linking it to improved neonatal outcomes and parental satisfaction. In Nigeria, where neonatal mortality remains among the highest globally, evidence on FCC integration, particularly from the perspectives of both parents and health workers, is scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the enablers and challenges of FCC for preterm newborns in a tertiary neonatal unit in Northern Nigeria, drawing on the lived experiences of parents and nurses.

METHODS

We conducted a qualitative study in the neonatal intensive care unit of Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, Nigeria, between April 2023 and April 2024. Purposive sampling recruited parents of preterm infants who had been discharged and neonatal nurses. Three focus group discussions (FGDs) with 20 parents and one FGD with 14 nurses were held. Sessions were conducted in English and Hausa, transcribed, translated where necessary and analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke's framework with NVivo V.10 software.

RESULTS

Parents identified enablers such as the intrinsic value they derived, supportive structure and confidence/readiness to care for the baby. Challenges included the burden and stress associated with FCC, culture and attitude as well as role negotiation within the unit. Nurses highlighted enablers including job satisfaction and reduced workload, but expressed concerns over parental interference and resistance to change. The findings underscore the dynamic interplay of facility, staff and family factors in shaping FCC implementation.

CONCLUSION

FCC is acceptable and valued by parents in our neonatal setting, with important implications for neonatal policy and service delivery. Implementation of FCC is strongly influenced by the interaction of individual, institutional and community-level factors that shape parental engagement and experience.