Quality of prenatal care and maternal fetal attachment among primigravid mothers in the Philippines: A cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The prenatal period is a proper chance for evaluating maternal-fetal attachment. AIM: To determine the relationship between quality of prenatal care and maternal-fetal attachment among primigravida mothers during late pregnancy period. METHODS: The study conducted a survey using a 46-item Quality of Prenatal Care Questionnaire and 24-item Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale among 343 primigravida mothers in village health stations. Pearson correlation was used to correlate maternal-fetal attachment scores and quality of prenatal scores. Linear regression was used to determine relationships between variables. RESULTS: Maternal-fetal attachment scores is correlated with: age ≤19 years (4.10 [95 % CI 1.81-6.39]), companion during visits (2.76 [95 % CI 0.34-5.18]), education (3.45 [95 % CI 0.93-5.97]). On multivariate analysis, the following were significantly associated with maternal-fetal attachment scores: information sharing (8.67 [95 % CI 4.74 - 12.60]), sufficient time (-2.34 [95 % CI -3.45 - -1.24]), support and respect (8.49 [95 % CI 4.54 - 12.45]), maternal age < 19 years (-3.78 [-5.81 to -1.75]), and unmarried (2.55 [95 % CI 0.70 - 4.41]). CONCLUSION: The quality of prenatal care is correlated significantly with maternal-fetal attachment. Women valued the care given when it was individualized and the health workers were approachable in their ways and addressed their own particular needs. Combination of prenatal education and counselling tailored to address own particular emotional and social concerns of pregnant mothers are interventions that should be integrated in maternal care services.

Concept analysis of maternal-infant attachment during the weaning process.

Background: At the time that the mother and baby transit from breastfeeding to weaning, maternal-fetal attachment becomes a crucial basis for maintaining their emotional relationship. Conceptualization is needed to better understand the phenomenon of maternal-infant attachment during the weaning process. Objective: The purpose of this paper is to explore and identify the essence of the term maternal-infant attachment during weaning and to arrive at an operational definition of the concept. Method: Concept analysis following Walker and Avant. Results: The attributes of maternal-infant attachment during the weaning process include (1) consistent and properly timed, (2) dynamic transactional interaction, and (3) secured adjustment. Maternal-infant attachment during the weaning process is brought by maternal sensitivity, closeness and proximity seeking, gentle and positive weaning, and breastfeeding experiences, which later turn into favorable emotion regulation, maturity, self-efficacy, secured bond, less intrusive interaction, resilience, and child's behavioral and development. Conclusion: This concept analysis provides new insight into maternal-infant attachment during the weaning process that guides the nursing practice. Also, the findings can help develop or improve the models, theories, and instruments collected for maintaining maternal-fetal attachment during the weaning process.

Population-based study of measles and vaccination coverage in Baguio City, Philippines

@#<p style="text-align: justify;">Measles continues to be a major childhood illness in Baguio City considering that the Philippines is elimination phase due to continuous transmission among susceptible population. Despite a high percentage of anti-measles vaccination coverage, outbreaks have been reported.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> The goal of this study is to describe the epidemiology of measles cases during 2010-2012 and relate it to the outbreak response immunization (ORI) and supplemental immunization activities (SIA) of Health Services Office.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>METHODS:</strong> It is a cross sectional design utilizing data from Philippine Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (PIDSR) of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit and reports from the Expanded Program on Immunization of the Field Health Service Information System of Baguio City. Simple descriptive statistical analysis utilizing frequency and percentage distribution was used to characterize the measles cases according to age, sex, case final classification and vaccination status.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>RESULTS:</strong> During the 3-year, period, there were 457 total suspected measles cases with history of fever, generalized rash, and either cough, coryza or conjunctivitis. Outbreak started in February 2010 and reached 97 suspected cases and eventually decreased after the ORI by March to April 2010. The mean age of the cases is 11.18±10.64 years old, 10.28 are aged from 0-8 months. Of this total, 105 (22.98%) were clinically confirmed, 66 (14.44%) were laboratory confirmed positive for anti-measles IgM antibodies, 27, (5.91%) were epidemiologically linked to confirmed cases and 295, (56.67%) discarded non-measles cases. Among 171 laboratory and clinically confirmed cases, 33 (19.30%) did not received measles vaccination, 40 (23.40%) received 1 dose and 54.40% has unknown immunization status.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> There were observed cased of measles that are out of age targer of the immunization program which necessitates public health action. There is a need to revisit immunization programs and policies to address out of target cases.</p>