Qualitative Exploration of Black Canadian Parents' Experiences of Having a Preterm Infant and Navigating Racism in the NICU.
Priscilla N Boakye, Nadia Prendergast, Fabiana Bacchini and 1 others
PMID 41235693WHAT IT FOUND
Black parents described NICU staff, including nurses, as sometimes dismissive or stereotyping.
They learned infant care but felt emotional distress was overlooked. Parents asked for empathy, culturally safe peer support, and clearer communication.
Key findings
01Nearly all participants described having to navigate implicit bias and discriminatory practices in the NICU.
02Parents said staff, including nurses, focused on infant care tasks but overlooked their emotional distress.
03Parents asked for Black peer support and culturally tailored mental health support while in the NICU.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Participants could recall experiences up to three years after preterm birth, which the authors note may affect what they remembered and shared. The study reports parents' perceptions and needs, not measured provider behaviour or tested effects of supports. Authors note their shared Black identity and equity values may have shaped data collection and interpretation.
Declared interests
No funding or conflict-of-interest declaration is provided in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat the parents' requests for empathy training, peer support, or mental-health programs as evidence that those programs work. This study describes experiences and needs, not tested interventions or outcomes.