Research report: A qualitative study of the communication and information needs of parents of preterm Infants in a tertiary health facility in Northeast Nigeria

Parents of preterm infants hospitalized in a tertiary health facility in Northeast Nigeria described practical, respectful, personalized and culturally sensitive communication as central to their experience of newborn care. In a qualitative study conducted from August 2023 to April 2024, parents said information should reach an available caregiver, involve both mothers and fathers, fit the newborn unit’s routine, and account for differences in parents’ strengths, weaknesses and needs. The study identified these preferences through three focus group discussions with 20 parents, but it did not measure whether changes in communication improve infant outcomes or reduce parental stress.

Researchers used a phenomenological approach and recruited parents through the facility’s follow-up clinic until data saturation was reached. The participants were 19 mothers and one father. Their mean age was 30.1 years, with a standard deviation of 6.1 years; all had completed secondary education, and 55 percent had also received tertiary education.

Focus group recordings were transcribed and analyzed thematically, with data managed using NVivo version 1.0. The work examined parents’ reported preferences concerning the content, timing and delivery of information, as well as their suggestions for improving communication during hospitalization. Four main themes emerged.

The first was pragmatism in information sharing: parents described the value of information reaching a parent who was present and available to communicate directly with the health team. The second theme concerned paternal involvement, including fathers’ participation in information exchange and shared decision-making, with attention to cultural sensitivity. The third theme favored incorporating communication into the unit’s existing routine to avoid multiple separate sessions.

The fourth emphasized respectful care and the need to individualize communication according to each parent’s strengths and weaknesses. Together, these themes presented communication as a contextual process shaped by family availability, gender roles, cultural norms and local health-system conditions. The authors said the findings could inform efforts to make communication pragmatic, respectful and individualized within routine newborn care while involving both parents.

They also emphasized that parents can offer insights and suggestions relevant to improving the quality of care for hospitalized infants. The evidence remains bounded by the study design and setting: it was a small qualitative study at one tertiary facility in Northeast Nigeria, and the participants were recruited from a follow-up clinic. The results describe the experiences and preferences reported by these parents rather than establish universal preferences across Nigerian neonatal units or demonstrate effects on clinical outcomes, parental anxiety, satisfaction or care engagement.

Subject of Research: Parent communication and information needs during hospitalization of preterm infants in Northeast Nigeria

Article Title: A qualitative study of the communication and information needs of parents of preterm Infants in a tertiary health facility in Northeast Nigeria

Article References: Adeniji, Y. R., Wariri, O., Musitia, P. M., & Jalo, I. (2026). A qualitative study of the communication and information needs of parents of preterm Infants in a tertiary health facility in Northeast Nigeria. BMC Health Services Research. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15645-1

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12913-026-15645-1

Keywords: preterm infants, parent communication, neonatal care, Nigeria, qualitative research, focus groups, shared decision-making, family involvement, respectful care, newborn unit, qualitative, communication