J Korean Acad Womens Health Nurs.  1995 Mar;1(1):5-22.

A Study on the Change of Primipara's Mother-Infant Interactional Process

• Cho MY

Abstract

One of the important tasks for new parents, especially mothers, is to establish warm, mutually affirming interpersonal relationships with the new baby in the family, with the purpose of promoting the health development of the child and the well-being of the whole family. Nurses assess the quality of the behavioral characteristics of the maternal-infant interaction. The purpose of this longitudinal descriptive correlational study is to investigate the changes of the mother-infant interactions from postpartum 1 day to postpartum 8weeks of the transition to parenthood. The aim was to contribute to the development of theoretical understanding on which to base care toward promoting the quality of maternal-infant interaction. Data were collected directly by the investigator and a trained from Jul, 1, 1990 to Jun 8, 1991, Subjects were a random sample of 44 mothers, 44 who had a normal delivery(but without other perinatal complications) at four general hospitals in Seoul. Instruments used were the Stainton Parent-infant Interaction Scale(1981). The first observations were made in the delivery room, followed by day 1, day 2, day 3 and 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks after, birth, for a total of 8 contacts. Observations in the hospital were made during the hour prior to scheduled feedings. The infant was placed beside the mother. Later contacts were made at home. Data analysis was don by computer using as SPSS program and included, Paired t-test, t-test and Pearson Correlation coefficient ; the results were as follows. 1. The daily maternal-infant interaction score for the initial contact ofter birth to 8 weeks postpartum had the lowest average score 5.21 and the highest 8.02(in a range of 0-10). This subject group of mothers needed Extra nursing supporting to promote their maternal-infant interaction. 2. The daily scores for the maternal-infant interaction tended to rise, showing a gradual improvement over the period of eight weeks. However, there were significantly different increases in maternal-infant interaction only from the first to second day(p=0.000) and from the fourth to sixth weeks ofter birth. (p=0.000) 3. When the seven items of maternal-infant interaction were evaluated items of maternal -infant interaction were evaluated separately, "Care taking for the baby" had the highest average score, 1.60(in a range of 0-2) and "Speaks to baby" the lowest, 0.8. All items, suggested the subjects' need of nursing intervention to promote maternal-infant interaction 4. There were positive correlations between certain general characteristics, namely, both a higher economic status(p=0.027) and breast feeding(p=0.021) and maternal-infant interaction.

MeSH Terms

Breast
Child
Delivery Rooms
Hospitals, General
Humans
Infant
Mother-Child Relations
Mothers
Nursing
Parents
Parturition
Postpartum Period
Research Personnel
Seoul
Statistics as Topic