Herul Wahyudin, Maria Oktasari, Ida Dwi Lestari
This paper explores the integration of culturally grounded practices into NICU care, specifically focusing on the Indonesian cultural principle of silih asah asih asuh . The study proposes that incorporating this relational ethic into NICU nursing training can enhance maternal emotional support, reduce anxiety, and increase maternal participation in infant care. By addressing the emotional needs of mothers, this approach aims to improve maternal confidence, strengthen the mother-infant bond, and foster better neonatal outcomes. The paper emphasizes the importance of culturally sensitive care alongside technical training, offering a holistic model that balances emotional co-regulation with medical care. This approach provides new insights into enhancing maternal engagement and supporting neonatal health through culturally informed interventions. © 2026 Neonatal Nurses Association.
Department of Guidance and Counseling, Universitas Negeri Malang, East Java, Malang, Indonesia; Department of Guidance and Counseling, Universitas Indraprasta PGRI Jakarta, Jakarta, East Jakarta, Indonesia; Department of Sociology, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Banten, Serang, Indonesia
