Effects of the Nursing Intervention on Mother-Infant Interaction

Kim, Mi Ye

Abstract

Mother and infant relationship has a great influence on child's developments. In this study, nursing intervention to increase maternal sensitivity to the infant's cues was applied to 25 primiparas (Experimental Group). Mother and infant interacations of these primiparas were compared with those of 25 primiparas (Control Group) who did not receive the nursing intervention. Fifty primiparas and infants were recruited from a university hospital, a general hospital, and an OBGY clinic located in Taegu city. Mother and infant interactions were assessed at 6 weeks after birth using videotapes. Feeding situations were videotaped and two trained observers analyzed the tapes. Data were collected from March 23rd to July 27th of 1998. Mother and infant interactions during feeding were assessed by the response rating scale which was modified by the author based on NCAST feeding scale (Barnard, 1978a) and AMIS scale (Price, 1983). The validity of the modified rating scale was verified by faculty members and researchers who previously had research experience in the area. Cronbach's Alpha of the modified scale for this study was .90. The data was analyzed by SAS program, using wilcoxon rank sums test, chi square test, Fisher's exact test, and ANOVA. Findings were as follows: 1. Mothers in the experimental group were more likely to have higher scores in mother and infant interactions during feeding than mothers in the control group. 2. Mothers in the experimental group showed better sensitivity to infant's signals or cues, provided growth fostering, and had higher responsibility to the infant's distress than mothers in the control group. 3. Infants in the experimental group showed higher clarity of cues and responsibility to the mother's behaviors than infants in the control group. 4. Mothers and infants in the experimental group showed higher synchronic responses than mothers and infants in the control group. In conclusion, this study has shown that the applied nursing intervention promoted mother and infant interaction among primiparas. Therefore, this study suggests that the nursing interventions to increase maternal sensitivity to the infant's cues should be broadly applied to primiparas, which can be beneficial to the social, affective, and cognitive developments of their children.