A brief educational strategy for parents of preterm infants : its effects on parent-infant bonding and infant development

A brief educational strategy was used with parents of preterm infants during the infant's hospitalization. The intervention used (1) the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS) as a teaching device and (2) the demonstration and teaching of stimulation activities to be used by parents with their infants in the hospital and later in their homes.

Subjects were 40 parent-infant units divided into experimental and control groups. Data were gathered at three points: in the hospital prior to intervention (Time 1), following intervention two days before the infant was discharged (Time 2), and one month after discharge in the home (Time 3). At Time 1, the mother's perception of her infant was assessed using the Broussard Neonatal Perception Inventory; the infant was evaluated using the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale; parents and infants were observed for frequency and types of attachment behaviors with a Parent-Infant Behavioral Observation. At Time 2, the Brazelton Scale was again administered to both groups of infants and experimental and control infants and parents were again evaluated using the Parent-Infant Behavioral Observation. A frequency count of calls and visits was kept for experimental and control groups of parents throughout hospitalization of the infant. From hospital admission to Time 3, both groups of parents and infants were scrutinized for effects of the crisis of premature birth on family structure. Stress indicators evaluated were: spouse and child abuse, job loss, change of residence, and separation and/or divorce.

At Time 3, data were collected in the infant's home using the Home Observation for the Measurement of the Environment. The Neonatal Perception Inventory was again administered, along with the Degree of Bother Inventory. Parents were observed once more for frequency and types of attachment behaviors (using the Parent-Infant Behavioral Observation). Infants were given a final evaluation on the Brazelton Scale.

Findings were that mothers in the experimental group perceived their infants significantly more positively at Time 3 (ppppppppppppIt is concluded that a simple intervention strategy used during the infant's hospitalization favorably affected parent-infant bonding and infant development in the experimental group.