Stress and its associated factors in mothers with preterm infants in a private tertiary care hospital of Karachi, Pakistan

Background Preterm births are the leading cause of death worldwide. Preterm births not only have devastating effects on the newborn, but they also have psychological effects on the mothers. Identifying stress related to preterm births, and the factors associated with the stress among mothers with preterm infants is of great importance, for providing sound care to the newborns and their mothers. The aim of this protocol paper outlines an extensive approach to assess the level of stress and its associated factors among mothers with preterm infants. Methods An analytical cross sectional study design will be used to achieve the study objectives. A total of 235 mothers who had given birth to preterm infants will be recruited using consecutive sampling. Data will be collected using a self-developed questionnaire for socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric and gynecological characteristics, marital and familial characteristics, coping related factors and newborns characteristics of mothers with preterm infants. Perceived stress scale (PSS) will also use in the study to identify level of stress among mothers with preterm infants. Data will be analyzed through descriptive and inferential analysis in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22. Conclusion This study will advance understanding of stress and the variables that influence it in mothers of premature babies. Health care providers would be able to take reference of the current study to conduct interventional studies for the mothers delivering the preterm infants.