Berrin GOKTUG KADIOGLU, Ayse Nur AKSOY, Nurcan YORUK, Cagla SIMSEK, Gizem OKAN
Medicine Science - 2026;15(1):365-369
Premature birth, which requires the baby to be admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), is a difficult process for both mother and father. Mothers with newborns in NICU experience anxiety, fear, and stress. This study compared the anxiety levels of NICU mothers staying in maternity hotels and those staying in their own homes. This study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. Mothers with newborns in NICU were included. Two groups were formed: Group 1: Mothers staying in a maternity hotel (n=44) and Group 2: Mothers staying in their own homes (n=42). Data were collected using a questionnaire that included characteristics of mothers and newborns, as well as the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI TX-1-STAI TX-2). All data were collected through a face-to-face interview, which took about 40 minutes, conducted by two psychologists at the maternity hotel. State anxiety levels for NICU mothers staying at the maternity hotel (40.07+/-9.94) were significantly lower compared with those staying at home (50.19+/-11.17) (p<0.001). However, trait anxiety levels for NICU mothers staying at the maternity hotel (43.05+/-10.75) were similar to those staying at home (42.62+/-7.37), (p=0.831). There was no relationship between STAI scores and sociodemographic data. Staying in a maternity hotel was associated with lower state anxiety among NICU mothers, suggesting that maternity hotels may help reduce temporary anxiety. Clinicians are encouraged to assess the anxiety levels of mothers of newborns in the NICU and distinguish between anxiety as a temporary state and anxiety as a personality trait. Clinicians should consider recommending maternity hotel accommodation for mothers experiencing high state anxiety.
