PURPOSE. To determine the feasibility of implementing an infant massage intervention and to evaluate the preliminary effects of infant massage on HIV-infected mothers and their infants. DESIGN AND METHODS. In this two-group, randomized controlled pilot study, intervention group mothers were taught to perform infant massage daily for 10 weeks. RESULTS. Infant massage training had a positive impact on maternal depression, parental distress, and infant growth along with facilitating more optimal parent-child interactions. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Infant massage, a quick, easy, and inexpensive intervention, is feasible in a clinic setting and may benefit human immunodeficiency virus-infected mothers and their infants.

Background Parental perception of their infants and confidence/beliefs about their parenting are among the most salient factors influencing outcomes of preterm infants. Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of scores on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Parent Belief Scale (NICU PBS) in a sample of mothers and fathers of preterm infants receiving intensive care. The NICU PBS is a rating instrument designed to assess parental beliefs about their premature infant and their role during hospitalization. Methods The sample consisted of 245 mothers and 143 fathers. As part of the Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE) trial, participants completed the NICU PBS four to eight days after NICU admission and again approximately four days prior to discharge. Validation data were obtained at various times throughout the study. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the NICU PBS factor structure. Results A three-factor solution was accepted (Parental Role Confidence, Parent-Baby Interaction, and Knowledge of the NICU). Reliability of scores on the total scale and subscales was high; Cronbach’s alpha ranged from .75 to .91. Test-retest correlations ranged from .84 to .92. Younger maternal age, birth of another child, and return to work within the past 12 months, and lower stress, depression, and anxiety were all significantly associated with higher scores on all subscales and the total score. Lower education, lower household income, receipt of Medicaid, and non-White race were associated with higher scores on the Parent Role Confidence subscale and total. Lower household income and receipt of Medicaid were associated with higher Parent-Baby Interaction scores. Discussion The NICU PBS can be used reliably with mothers and fathers of premature infants who are hospitalized in the NICU, and it may be a useful scale in predicting parental stress, depression, and anxiety.

Women in this sample were at high risk for unplanned pregnancies. Therefore, a primary contraceptive need for this population appeared to be education about longer lasting, user-independent forms of contraception. Many of these women would be ideal candidates for such forms of contraception, especially if it was provided prior to release.