The support needs of high-risk antenatal patients in prolonged hospitalisation

Objective: to identify and describe the support needs of high-risk antenatal patients hospitalised for more than five days. Design: a qualitative, explorative and descriptive design. In-depth interviews were conducted with pregnant women during their stay in hospital until data saturation was reached. Setting: an antenatal unit in a private hospital in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Participants: 11 antepartum women who had been hospitalised for five days or more and were of any gestation period. Findings: three main themes emerged: (a) a need for social support; (b) improvement of the environment; and (c) assistance with emotional adaptation and acceptance of prolonged hospitalisation. Key conclusion: prolonged hospitalisation of high-risk antenatal patients disrupts the usual adaptation to pregnancy. These patients develop specific needs during hospitalisation. Findings suggest that the length of hospitalisation influences the specific support needs of antenatal patients. Implications for practice: this study identified a link between social and environmental support, emotional adaptation, acceptance of hospitalisation of high risk antenatal patients and improvement of their health status. Through reflection on these themes, recommendations can be made and strategies implemented to meet the support needs of high risk antenatal patients. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved