Parenting educational needs and preferences among mothers of full-term and preterm infants at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2023

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the needs and preferences of parenting education among mothers of full - term and preterm infants in Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted on postpartum women at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 12/2022 to 04/2023. The results indicated that mothers of full-term and preterm infants showed similarity in information sources, methods and time preferred receiving education. Physicians (73.3% - 75%) and families (66.7% - 71.7%) were the common information sources. Most of the mothers preferred receiving parenting education via electronic combining with nonelectronic methods (46.7%). The interesting topics for parenting were infant care, infant feeding, mother and infant sleep, and maternal postpartum health. Content analysis indicated six major challenges, including lack of knowledge and experience in infant care, concerns about infant health and development, breastfeeding, concerns about maternal health during postpartum, lack of support, lack of time, work and financial burden. In conclusion, women reported several challenges during early postpartum. The majority of mothers presented the need for parenting education and support from health care professionals and family.