To explore caregivers' and healthcare workers' perspectives on their experience in the NICU and their perceptions of their infants being videotaped for the General Movement Assessment.
Of the 42 caregivers whose infants were eligible and videotaped in the NICU, 17 participated in in-depth interviews conducted by the primary researcher and another experienced interviewer after assessing their babies. Ten in-depth interviews were conducted with HCWs. Interviews for the caregivers were done in Chichewa using a translated and piloted topic guide. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated to English, and back to Chichewa to ascertain that no meaning was lost. Using the framework approach, inductive coding and thematic analysis were done.
The themes identified from HCW interviews included Hope for better outcomes, Trust issues, Peer and family support, ethical issues, knowledge of conditions, and health education provision. HCWs themes included experience, quantity vs. quality, attitudes, empowerment, and lack of resources.
Poorly managed perceptions of caregivers and HCWs' needs can affect the implementation of new interventions in the NICU.
Trust and the provision of information will affect caregivers' willingness to participate in early cerebral palsy screening. Further training and capacity strengthening of HCWs are needed to implement GMA in a Malawian NICU.
Successful implementation of the GMA tool will facilitate early identification and referral for physiotherapy intervention, thereby providing the opportunity to deliver intervention during the neuroplastic period of brain development for better outcomes
Early identification
Intervention
