The Effect of Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Early Maternal Feeding Behavior on Later Infant Feeding Behavior

Maternal depression and child feeding practices: Determinants to malnutrition among young children in Malaysian rural area

BACKGROUND

Maternal depression may affect child feeding practices and growth.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between child feeding practices and current maternal depression with malnutrition among young children in a rural community.

METHODS

This is a case-control study consisting of 52 Malay mothers of malnourished children (case) and 50 Malay mothers of well-nourished children (control) in Kuala Langat, Selangor, Malaysia. Structured questionnaires on child feeding practices and Beck Depression Inventory: Second Edition questionnaire were distributed to mothers.

RESULTS

Depressed mothers stopped exclusive breastfeeding (2.8 ± 2.1 months) earlier than non-depressed mothers (3.7 ± 2.0 months; p = 0.045). Binary logistic regression analysis showed current maternal depression was a primary contributor associated with risk of malnutrition in children (adjusted odds ratio: 2.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-6.09), and followed by the number of children (adjusted odds ratio: 1.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.77).

CONCLUSION

Mothers who experienced depression were twice as likely to have malnourished children. Each additional child in the family will increase the risk of malnutrition by 1.3 times. Maternal depression is associated with child feeding practices and malnutrition among young children in the studied population. Preliminary screening to identify depression symptoms should be conducted to all mothers as early as the first trimester to prevent the incidence of malnutrition in children.

Maternal attention and preterm infant feeding

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among the mother's internal working model of feeding, attentional process, feeding behaviors, and responsiveness accounting for maternal psychological distress, which may contribute to preterm infants' feeding difficulties.

DESIGN AND METHODS

In this descriptive study, 21 mother-preterm infant dyads were videotaped during feeding.

RESULTS

Surprisingly, the internal working model of feeding was a significant negative predictor of maternal feeding behaviors and maternal attention. All other correlations were non-significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the early timing of the data collection, it is possible that mothers had not developed a frame of reference of their infant as a person. Research to help further understand factors and timing affecting maternal feeding behaviors is needed.

A guided feeding intervention for mothers of preterm infants: two case studies

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine how mothers of preterm infants perceive the feasibility and acceptability of a guided feeding intervention.

DESIGN AND METHODS

In this multiple case study design, feasibility was assessed by retention of participants through all intervention sessions. Acceptability was assessed with a semi-structured interview.

RESULTS

Participants found the intervention useful for demonstrating and explaining behaviors that facilitate feeding, and helpful in dispelling previous, erroneous understandings about infant behaviors.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The results are encouraging. The intervention was found to be both feasible and acceptable. The effectiveness of this intervention needs to be assessed in a randomized controlled trial.

Furthering the understanding of parent-child relationships: a nursing scholarship review series. Part 3: Interaction and the parent-child relationship--assessment and intervention studies

PURPOSE

This integrative review concerns nursing research on parent-child interaction and relationships published from 1980 through 2008 and includes assessment and intervention studies in clinically important settings (e.g., feeding, teaching, play).

CONCLUSIONS

Directions for research include development of theoretical frameworks, valid observational systems, and multivariate and longitudinal data analytic strategies.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Observation of social-emotional as well as task-related interaction qualities in the context of assessing parent-child relationships could generate new questions for nursing research and for family-centered nursing practice.

The mother-infant feeding tool

OBJECTIVE

To describe the development and evaluation of an observation system to assess the process of mother-infant feeding interaction relevant to infant neuro-behavioral regulation: the Mother-Infant Feeding Tool.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis.

SETTING

Special care nursery just before discharge and in the home at 1 and 4 months postterm age.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty-three mother-infant dyads.

METHODS

Videotaped feeding interactions were examined to assess regulatory processes of mother-infant interaction. Data were collected at three times over the infant's first 4 postterm months: before the infant's discharge from the special care nursery and at 1 and 4 months postterm age in the home.

RESULTS

Across all three data points mothers rarely talked to their infants.

CONCLUSION

Further testing is needed, but the Mother-Infant Feeding Tool shows promise in assessing very early mother-infant feeding interactions.