The Effect of Infant Massage on Attachment Behaviors in Mothers of Premature Infants

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Mother - infant attachment is impaired with the hospitalization of the premature infant and separation from the family, which impairs the infant s development and the mother s ability to care for the infant. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of infant massage on attachment behaviors in mothers of premature infants. METHODS: This cluster randomized controlled trial was performed on 54 mothers and premature infants 34 to 36 weeks hospitalized in the intensive care unit of Shahid Sadoughi and Afshar hospitals in Yazd. First, the research was divided into control and experimental groups by random draw method and then the samples were selected by convenience sampling. In the experimental group, each mother massaged her infant once a day for 5 consecutive days. The control group received only the routine care. Maternal attachment was measured and compared using Avant s mother-infant attachment behavior questionnaire with a minimum score of zero and a maximum of 195 in both groups during breastfeeding and interaction with the infant, before the intervention, on the third day and fifth day after the intervention. FINDINGS: Mean score of mothers attachment behaviors in the experimental group on the third day (50.63±6.06) and the fifth day (66±9.96) showed a statistically significant difference with the control group on the third day (44.67±4.12) and the fifth day (49.70±4.75), respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that massage in premature infants can be effective in increasing maternal attachment behaviors.

Keywords

• premature infant
• attachment
• massage.