Exploring the Experiences, Cultural Values, and Perceptions of Mothers of Hospitalized Newborns in Malawi: An Integrative Review of the Literature

Sub-Saharan Africa has the world's highest rates of neonatal mortality. Mothers are critical to the survival of these at-risk newborns. The aim of this integrative review is to appraise the published literature on the experiences, cultural values, and perceptions of mothers of hospitalized newborns in Malawi to inform future research. This integrative review utilizes Whittemore and Knafl's review model. CINAHL, PubMed, and Academic Search Elite databases were searched. Five summarizing themes were identified across ten articles relating to the mother as a caregiver, experiences of mother as a caregiver, cultural observations and perceptions of the mother, influence of others on the mother, and discrimination and stigma. Mothers' experiences of having a newborn requiring hospitalization in Malawi are complex. Results indicate a need for more studies to understand the experiences of mothers of newborns requiring hospitalization in Malawi in order to provide culturally congruent newborn care.