Abstract
Introduction
There is a growing appreciation that parents play a critical part in promoting the health outcomes of their hospitalized sick children. This is because parents want to be involved in the care of their children to allay parental anxiety and promote cooperation from children. After all, children feel insecure in an unfamiliar environment.
Objective
The main objective of the study was to gain a deeper understanding of parental involvement and experiences in the care of hospitalized sick children in Tamale Metropolis.
Methods
A descriptive exploratory design with a qualitative approach was used for the study. Thirteen parents of sick children on admission at the children’s unit of the Tamale Metropolis were interviewed for the study. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis (TA).
Results
The study revealed that participants in the study demonstrated basic knowledge and understanding of parental involvement in the care of hospitalized sick children and shared some of the benefits of parental involvement as improved interaction with health workers, healthier and happier children as well as promoting the early detection of the signs and symptoms of illnesses in children on admission. Some of the barriers to parental involvement include language barriers, poor communication between healthcare providers and parents, financial challenges and institutional challenges. Many participants also reported that sources of parental involvement were the media and healthcare workers.
Conclusions
Findings from the study indicate that the majority of participants have a fundamental idea about parental involvement. To improve parental involvement in the care of sick children, stakeholders must engender a collective approach that sensitizes the general public and health workers toward acceptance and incorporation into healthcare delivery.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.