Introduction: Mothers with preterm infants experience numerous stressful problems which can have negative effects on maternal role adaptation. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of consultation using a problem-solving approach on adaptation to the maternal role in women with late preterm infants. Methods: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) was carried out on 80 women with spontaneous late preterm infants recruited at Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital of Zanjan. Using convenience sampling method, the participants were assigned into two groups of intervention and control according to block design. Taking a problem-solving approach, counselling was carried out individually in four sessions. The control group received only routine care. The data were collected using adaptation to maternal role questionnaire including 33 items based on a five-point Likert scale ranging in seven areas, in two steps (before counselling and one month after the last counselling session). Data analysis was performed using the SPSS ver. 16.0 software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). Results: The total score of adaptations to maternal role and its areas was significantly higher in the intervention group after the follow-up period. Conclusion: A comprehensive counselling including various dimensions of maternity adaptation had a positive effect on improving the adaptation to maternal role in mothers with late preterm infants.

Background: Mothers with preterm infants experience numerous stressful problems which can be associated with negative effects on maternal role adaptation. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate maternal role adaptation in mothers with late-preterm infants and its related factors. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital in Zanjan, Iran during June-November. A total of women with preterm infants were selected by convenience sampling method. Data were collected using demographic and maternal role adaptation questionnaires. Finally, the obtained data were analyzed by the SPSS software employing descriptive statistics test and regression models at a confidence level of (P<). Results: Based on the results, the highest mean of maternal role adaptation belonged to the areas of child dependency and emotional development while the lowest mean was related to the area of concern and anxiety. In addition, the results demonstrated a significant correlation between the degree of maternal role adaptation and its areas such as family income, maternal and parents level of education, parents occupational status, birth weight, Apgar score, the gender of the infant, and delivery method. Conclusion: In general, the adaptation of mothers with preterm infants was low in the area of concern and anxiety compared to the other areas. Therefore, planning appropriate interventions to strengthen the maternal role is of great importance for the parents who have preterm infants, low level of education, and are unemployed with insufficient income.