J Nurs Acad Soc.  1982 Dec;12(2):31-44.

A Study about the Relationship between Maternal Attachment and Discharge Against Advice in High Risk Infants

• Kim TI

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between maternal attachment and discharge against advice in high risk infants and determine the factors which affect discharge against advice. Data of this study were collected by means of reviewing the medical records of 127 in-patients who were diagnosed as high risk infants in admission and interviewing of the mothers of these patients was done by telephone. The high risk categories were neonatal hyperbiJirubinemia, congenital anomaly, congenital heart disease, Mood disorder, neonatal infection and birth injury. Maternal attachment was measured by deviding the subjects into 2 groups, the one the continuing treatment group and the other the discharge against advice group. Maternal attachment is determined by an interplay of maternal attitude and specific infant behaviors. Maternal attachment developes through continuous physical and psychological contact between mother and infants. Later it developes into maternal love. The results were as follows; 1. There was a significant association between maternal attachment and discharge against advice, that is, the attachment score was higher in the continuing treatment group. 2. Inspite of controlling medical insurance, severity of disease and the length of stay, it was found that there continued to be either a partially significant or fully significant relationship between maternal attachment and discharge against advice. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that maternal attachment was second in importance as a predictor of discharge against advice, which indicates that maternal attachment was a - significant predictor of discharge against advice. 3. Stepwise multiple regression revealed that in 32.3% of these cases the significant predictors of discharge against advice were length of stay, maternal attachment, delivery type, feeding type and income.

MeSH Terms

Birth Injuries
Heart Defects, Congenital
Humans
Infant Behavior
Infant*
Infant, Newborn
Insurance
Length of Stay
Love
Medical Records
Mood Disorders
Mothers
Telephone