The effect of mother - infant skin to skin contact on mother's attachment

ntroduction: Human being’s mental health depends on the quality of personal communications. The first experience of this communication starts with mother infant interaction and increases mother’s attachment to their infants. Since mother infant skin to skin contact is one of the methods to increase attachment, This study was conducted to investigate mother – infant skin to skin contact on mother’s attachment.Methods and Materials: In this randomized control trial 79 cesarean-sectioned women were allocated. The first selection hospitals for groups assignment (40 women in case and 39 in control group) was random. The place of two groups changed during five days. Experimental group received skin to skin contact, 20-30 minutes daily. Mother’s attachment tool was used to define attachment and anxiety regarding children. Mother’s attachment was investigated on the first, third and tenth days post cesarean section. The data were analysed by t-student pairedt and regression tests. the findings showed a significant difference between mother’s attachment on the third and tenth days in both groups. The findings also showed that there was a significant difference between mother’s attachment in both groups on the first tenth and first-third days post cesarean-section. Regression test showed that only mother-infant skin to skin contact and mother’s attachment on the first day affected mother’s attachment on the third day. According to the findings, mother – infant skin to skin contact is an efficient method to increase mothers attachment and to lower their anxiety regarding children. Mother – infant skin to skin contact is suggested as a way to reach maternal health.