Different Dimensions of Maternal-Fetal Attachment Behaviors and Associated Factors in Pregnant Women Referred to Health Centers of Birjand, Iran, 2012

Introduction: Prenatal attachment plays an important role in health of mother and fetus and positive adaptation to motherhood. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate different dimensions of maternal-fetal attachment behaviors and associated factors.
Methods: This descriptive analytical study was conducted on 241 pregnant women in 2012 with multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected using personal demographics, social support and life satisfaction questionnaires and maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16.5, independent t-test, ANOVA, Tukey and Spearman correlation coefficients tests. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: The mean MFA was 90.63±9.23. There were significant relationship between MFA (total score and some of sub scales) and education and occupation (mother and husband) and marital satisfaction (p<0.05). There were significant relationship between sub scales of MFA (no total score) and gestational age, parity and wanted or unwanted pregnancy (p<0.05). There were not any significant relationship between MFA (total score and some of sub scales) and maternal age, abortion and stillbirth history, high risk pregnancy, housing status and income status (p>0.05). There were weakly correlation between MFA and social support and life satisfaction (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Some demographic and prenatalvariables such as parents’ education, parity and age of mother influenced maternal-fetal attachment (total score and some of sub scales) of pregnant women.