Effect of a Training Program about Maternal Fetal Attachment Skills on Prenatal Attachment among Primigravida Women

Aim: to assess effect of a training program about maternal fetal attachment skills on prenatal attachment among primigravida women. Subjects and Methods: A quasi experimental research design was utilized. From a specific private Antenatal Clinic in Mansoura city-Egypt eighty primigravida women aged 20 to 35 years, at 30 week gestation, had singleton pregnancy and can read and write were selected purposively between of January and August 2011 and was equally divided into two groups; intervention group: received a training program on two MFA skills and control group: received the routine antenatal care. Using interview sheet and Cranley's Maternal Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS) the data were collected at baseline and after two and four weeks of the enrollment. Results: MFAS score had significantly increased in the intervention group from 61.6±5.9 at the baseline to 68.5±6.8 and 69.6 ±5.9 at 32, 34 week gestation respectively. While the changes of the MFAS total score in the control group were insignificant. Conclusion: MFAS total scores had significantly increased in the intervention group at 32 and 34 week gestation compared to the baseline score. Conversely, the MFAS total score did not differ significantly between the baseline and two and four weeks after enrollment among the control group. Recommendations: Enhancing the health care providers' awareness of the MFA skills to utilize in the promotion of the prenatal MFA and motivate the active role of the nurses in helping the pregnant women to adhere to the appropriate MFA skills are recommended.