Thesis (MSocialWork)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research originated from the researcher's interest in the effect of high-risk pregnancy, premature birth and infancy on the emotional well-being of parents. The research undertaken particularly focused on exploring the psychosocial experiences of parents with a premature infant. The study aimed at investigating various social work intervention strategies that can be applied to address the problematic factors parents with a premature infant are confronted with. The purpose of this research is to provide a theoretical knowledge basis, in order to set guidelines for social work intervention, to ensure effective service rendering to parents with premature infants. The research report includes a review of the literature discussing premature labour and birth, the premature infant and the psychosocial experiences of parents. Social work in health care, kangaroo care, crisis intervention, family therapy and grief counselling are also discussed to create a theoretical knowledge basis in order to serve as a guideline for social workers, to ensure effective and efficient social work service rendering to parents with a premature infant. The empirical research involved the use of both qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the psychosocial experiences of parents and the effectiveness of social work intervention. The population admitted in the Military hospital during the period 2001 to 2003 consisted of +- 60 cases. To enable the researcher to conduct the research study 50% of the overall population was used which resulted in a sample of 20 respondents consulted in the period 2002 to 2003. The respondents were invited to a group meeting where questionnaires, which included open-ended and closed questions, were used to collect the data. The results obtained were analyzed and compared to relevant literature in order to assess the reliability of the research. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations were offered from the findings of the study. The fmdings of this study serve as a guideline for professionals, specifically social workers in the medical setting, to be able to render an effective service to parents with a premature infant. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die oorsprong van hierdie navorsing het ontstaan na aanleiding van die navorser se belangstelling rakende die effek wat hoë-risiko swangerskap, premature kraam en die premature baba op die emosionele welstand van die ouer het. Die navorsingsondersoek fokus spesifiek daarop om die psigo-sosiale ondervindinge van ouers te verken. Die studie poog ook daarin om verskeie maatskaplike intervensiestrategieë te ondersoek wat aangewend kan word om die problematiese faktore waarmee ouers gekonfronteer word aan te spreek. Die doel van die navorsing is om 'n teoretiese kennisbasis daar te stel wat as riglyne benut kan word vir die implementering van maatskaplikewerk-intervensie ten einde 'n effektiewe diens aan ouers met premature babas te kan lewer. Die navorsingsverslag bied 'n oorsig van die literatuur waarin premature kraam, die premature baba en die psigo-sosiale ondervindinge van ouers in diepte bespreek word. Verskeie maatskaplike intervensiestrategieë word ook bespreek met verwysing na maatskaplike werk in die gesondheidsektor, kangaroosorg, krisisingryping, gesinsterapie en rouberading. Die empiriese studie sluit in die benutting van beide die kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodes ten einde die psigososiale ondervindings van ouers met premature babas te verken asook die effektiwiteit van maatskaplikewerk-intervensie te ondersoek. Die totaal ouers met premature babas opgeneem in die Militêre hospitaal vir die tydperk 2001 tot 2003 het +- 60 gevalle beloop. Ten einde dit dus vir die navorser moontlik te maak om die navorsingstudie te kan onderneem is 50% van die populasie betrek in die navorsingstudie waaruit 'n steekproef van 20 respondente saamgestel is met wie gekonsulteer is in die periode 2002 tot 2003. Die respondente is genooi na 'n groepvergadering waartydens vraelyste uitgedeel is om data te bekom. Oop en geslote vrae is ingesluit in die vraelyste. Die resultate en bevindinge verkry is geanaliseer en vergelyk met die literatuur om die betroubaarheid van die navorsing te toets. Gevolgtrekkinge is gemaak en aanbevelings daarop gebaseer is na aanleiding van die bevindinge van die studie aangebied. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie kan aangewend word as 'n riglyn vir professionele persone met spesifieke verwysing na maatskaplike werkers in die gesondheid sektor, om 'n effektiewe diens te kan lewer aan ouers met premature babas.