title: The influence of maternal-fetal attachment and health practices on neonatal outcomes in low-income, urban women.
abstract: Maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) has been associated with health practices during pregnancy, but less is known about this relationship in low-income women, and no identified studies have examined this relationship to neonatal outcomes. This longitudinal descriptive study was conducted to examine the relationships among MFA, health practices during pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes in a sample of low-income, predominantly African-American women and their neonates. MFA was associated with health practices during pregnancy and adverse neonatal outcomes. Health practices during pregnancy mediated the relationships of MFA and adverse neonatal outcomes. The results support the importance of examining MFA in our efforts to better understand the etiology of health disparities in neonatal outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Balitmore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Jeanne L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Alhusen
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hayat
authors.forename: Anne B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: Phyllis W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Sharps
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D033261:Maternal-Fetal Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data