Maternal Infant Attachment Through Reading: What Do Mothers Understand?

Abstract

Purpose: To examine and explore the concept of maternal-infant attachment and to raise awareness of maternal-infant attachment through reading. Study Design and Methods: This study was a program evaluation composed of five activities: a community assessment using a windshield survey, weekly post-partum-newborn home visits, key informant interviews, a survey with new mothers, and a campaign to acquire age-appropriate books for newborns. Results: Home visits were made to 17 mothers on 4 separate days between September 23, 2014 and October 13, 2014. Home visits included information about early reading and maternal-infant attachment. Thirty-two (32) books were collected from identified donors and a maternal-infant reading program was reestablished. Clinical Implications: The majority of new mothers were unaware of the importance of reading to enhance maternal-infant attachment. Few knew the benefit of early reading. These mothers were very receptive to this nursing intervention and eager to practice reading to their newborn, following demonstration. This health teaching and demonstration is recommended as part of home visits. The outcome of this project suggests that mothers and infants gain considerably from the practice of early reading. This information should contribute to the on-going community book campaign to provide infant books, in Spanish and English, to the most vulnerable new mothers and newborns. Keywords: Maternal-infant attachment; Reading; Bonding; Infant; Home visits