PARENTAL ANXIETY DURING NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT HOSPITALIZATION AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH INFANT LENGTH OF STAY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstrak

Hospitalization of infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) may contribute to parental anxiety due to uncertainty about infant conditions, separation, and limited involvement in care. This study aimed to determine parental anxiety levels during NICU hospitalization and analyze their association with infant length of stay at RSD Tidore Kepulauan. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 30 parents of infants hospitalized in the NICU. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and parental anxiety was assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS). Infant length of stay was categorized as ≤3 days and ≥4 days. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis and the Chi-square test. Most respondents were mothers (73.3%), aged 25–35 years (53.3%), and had infants hospitalized for ≥4 days (73.3%). Anxiety levels varied, with 46.7% experiencing no anxiety, while others reported mild to very severe anxiety. The Chi-square test showed no significant association between parental anxiety and infant length of stay (p=0.946). Parental anxiety during NICU hospitalization was influenced by various factors beyond hospitalization duration. Family-centered care and psychological support are needed to improve parental adaptation during NICU care.