Abbreviated Version of the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale: Evidence of Validity and Reliability

Abstract

The Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale has been widely applied in research on the subject. There are no known studies that have validated a shortened version of this instrument in Brazil. This study aimed to propose a shortened version of the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale and examine its evidence of validity and reliability. This methodological study was carried out on a sample of 937 pregnant women in the Primary Health Care of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais - Brazil. Construct validity and reliability were measured. A trifactor version with 15 items was obtained, which presented satisfactory adjustment indexes. Convergent and discriminant validities were close to the recommended ones. The scale differentiated attachment scores according to different sample characteristics. Internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.878) and composite reliability (> 0.70) were appropriate. The abbreviated Brazilian version of the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale presented satisfactory psychometric attributes for application to pregnant women in Primary Health Care.

Sintomas Depressivos E Fatores Associados Em Gestantes Assistidas Na Atenção Primária À Saúde

“…A APS exerce papel fundamental nesse contexto, uma vez que os profissionais têm a oportunidade de avaliar a gestante inserida em suas relações sociais, familiares e conjugais. Isso contribui para o reconhecimento de fatores predisponentes e para a atenção à saúde mental, ainda negligenciada em uma assistência focada nas mudanças físicas do período gravídico 7,23 .…”

“…As gestantes assistidas em serviços de APS podem estar propensas a situações sociais e concernentes à saúde mental que propiciam desenvolvimento de sintomas depressivos. Tal situação demanda que aspectos socioafetivos e psíquicos também sejam abordados pelos profissionais, de modo a construir um cuidado humanizado e integral que ultrapasse a dimensão biologicista 7 . Nesse contexto, deve ser considerada a investigação dos fatores associados aos sintomas de depressão na gestação 8,9,10 .…”

Depressive Symptoms and Associated Factors in Pregnant Women Attended in Primary Healthcare

“…PHC plays a fundamental role in this context, as professionals have the opportunity to evaluate pregnant women in their social, family and marital relationships. This contributes to recognizing predisposing factors and attention to mental health, which is still neglected in care focused on the physical changes of the pregnancy period 7,23 .…”

“…Pregnant women attended in PHC services may be prone to social and mental health situations which encourage development of depressive symptoms. This situation demands that socio-affective and psychological aspects are also addressed by professionals in order to provide humanized and comprehensive care that goes beyond the biological dimension 7 . In this context, investigation of factors associated with depression symptoms during pregnancy should be considered 8,9,10 .…”