The effect of a maternal role promoting program on maternal-infant attachment, maternal role satisfaction, competency in infant behavioral learning and infant growth.
Abstract:
The objective of this quasi experimental research was to study the effects of a
maternal role promoting program on maternal-infant attachment, maternal role
satisfaction, competency in infant behavioral learning and infant growth. The study
was the chosen by purposive sampling from the Obstetric Nursing Department,
Ramathibodi Hospital, and comprised 60 pairs split equally into a control group and
an experimental group. The control group was given usual nursing care whereas the
experimental group was given usual nursing care along with a maternal role
promoting program developed by the researcher between July 2007 and February
2008. Data were collected using questionnaires on maternal-unborn infant attachment,
maternal-newborn infant attachment, maternal role satisfaction, and competency in
infant behavioral learning. Data were analyzed to compare the differences between the
average scores of both groups by using the analysis of covariance and Independent ttest.
The study revealed that when the factors of maternal-unborn infant attachment
were controlled, scores of maternal-6-week newborn infant attachment, maternal role
satisfaction, and competency in infant behavioral learning of the experimental group
were statistically significantly higher than those of the control group (p < .001). In
addition, the increase in weight and height of 6-week newborn infants in the
experimental group was statistically significantly higher than for the control group (p
< .05, p < .001 respectively).
The findings suggest that the maternal role promoting program can promote
maternal-infant attachment, maternal role satisfaction, competency in infant
behavioral learning and infant growth as well as develop the quality of nursing
practices and further enhance roles of first-time mothers.