Understanding interventions and outcomes in mothers of infants.
The first two years after an infant's birth is a time of transition for mothers as changes in roles, responsibilities, expectations, and behaviors occur in response to the demands of caring for newborn infants and young children. Mothers play pivotal roles in overall child development and health and may benefit from nursing intervention that assists in the transition to motherhood. A review of the intervention literature related to the promotion of effective mothering was performed in order to examine the range of interventions and evidence of their usefulness for maternal-child and pediatric nursing practice. Five broad categories of interventions appropriate for nursing practice were identified through the literature review. Home visiting, skin-to-skin contact, individual, infant-focused education/counseling, and theory-based group intervention have a specific applicability for the promotion of mothering in particular populations of mothers. Based on the evidence, nurses can incorporate selected strategies into nursing care to promote effective mothering during the first years of a child's life.
Center for Health Disparities Research, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19102, USA. mrg35@drexel.edu
Marcia R
MR
Gardner
Janet A
JA
Deatrick
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001294:Attitude to Health; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008016:Life Change Events; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012944:Social Support