title: Maternal-fetal attachment in african-american and Hispanic-american women.
abstract: This pilot study used Cranley's Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS) to explore the feasibility of comparing maternal-fetal attachment behaviors of African-American and Hispanic-American gravidas. Data analysis revealed no significant differences between the two groups' MFAS total scale score means; however, the Hispanic-American gravidas displayed significantly higher scores in two of the subscales. While study limitations were apparent, the results lend support to health care professionals' responsibilities to be cognizant of potential similarities and differences in the cultural care needs of pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: N ancy A hern is a faculty member at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida, and a PhD student at the University of Central Florida School of Nursing in Orlando, Florida.
authors.forename: Nancy R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Ahern
authors.forename: Judith P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ruland