https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/10/1/e004254
This study aimed to understand barriers and drivers of implementing Family Integrated Newborn Care (FINC) for preterm and low birthweight infants in eight hospitals in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. The study involved semi-structured interviews with 21 purposively selected participants: healthcare providers, key informant researchers, and mothers.
Five core categories emerged: Barriers were mainly related to (1) perceived increased risk of infection and (2) ignorance regarding families’ roles and rights. Drivers included (1) reduced risk of infection, (2) mitigating safety concerns and (3) reduced workload. Despite the potential role of families in preventing infection, mitigating safety concerns and reducing workload, a dominant narrative of perceived heightened infection risk resulted in a restrictive family visitation policy.