title: Recreating the village: the development of groups to improve social relationships among mothers of newborn infants in Australia.
abstract: There is a clear link between social relationships and health in terms of both morbidity and mortality. The study was conducted during 1989 and 1990 among mothers of newborn infants from a middle-ranking socioeconomic status suburb in Sydney (Ryde). Thirty-four per cent of the study group had a moderate level of social isolation and 16 per cent had a high level of social isolation. These mothers strongly valued participation in the groups: virtually all original participants remained with the group both during a five-week formal period with a nursing staff member as the leader and during months and up to five years of continued meetings. The outcomes appear to be favourable in terms of the development and continuation of strong interpersonal relationships among members of the group and by improved confidence and knowledge about infant rearing. The development of groups of mothers adds no cost to the provision of health services and provides a sound and practical way of reducing social isolation and increasing mothercraft skills in an Australian suburb.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Services Management, University of New South Wales, Kensington.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Callaghan
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009740:Nursing Staff; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012923:Social Class; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D013383:Suburban Population