Kulwara Phianching. Effects of the parental sensitivity intervention to enhance mother-infant and father-infant attachment among parents of preterm babies. Doctoral Degree(Nursing Science). Burapha University. Library. : Burapha University, 2019.
Effects of the parental sensitivity intervention to enhance mother-infant and father-infant attachment among parents of preterm babies
Abstract:
Babies who are born prematurity usually require hospitalization to receive closed
attention and special care, must be separated from parents. This situation affects
attachment between the parents and babies. Since preterm babies are very small and
fragile, the confidence of parents in caring for their babies at home is also a matter of
concern. This study aimed to examine the effects of a parental sensitivity intervention on
attachment and self-efficacy among mothers and fathers of preterm infants.
A convenience sampling method was used to recruit 34 triads of mothers, fathers and
their preterm infants with 17 in each group. Data collection was carried out from
September to December 2018. The Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire and the Maternal/
Paternal Confidence Questionnaire were used to measure the outcome variables three
times (Baseline, Day 3 and Day 7). The experimental group received four sessions of the
parental sensitivity intervention and routine care, while the control group received only
the routine care. Repeated measure ANOVAs were used to analyze the data.
The results revealed that father-infant attachment and father‟s self-efficacy in the
intervention group were significantly greater than those in the control group. While,
the mother-infant attachment and mother‟s self-efficacy were not different. As time
passed, mother‟s self-efficacy and father‟s self-efficacy within the intervention group
were increasing more than that of the control group.
These findings suggest that the parental sensitivity intervention is beneficial, especially
for fathers of preterm infants. Nurses should utilize this intervention as a part of health
care plan to educate the parents of preterm infants focusing more on the father before the
baby discharges from hospital.