Mother-Infant Bonding and Its Associated Factors Among Mothers in the Postpartum Period, Northwest Ethiopia, 2021

Abstract

BackgroundThe emotional bond that a mother senses to her infant is essential to their social, emotional, and cognitive development. Understanding the level of mother-infant bonding plays an imperative role in the excellence of care. However, in Ethiopia, there is a paucity of information about mother-infant bonding in the postpartum period.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the level of mother-infant bonding and its associated factors among mothers in the postpartum period, Debre Tabor Town Northwest Ethiopia, 2021.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 422 postpartum mothers. The postpartum Bonding Questionnaire was used to assess mother-infant bonding. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to assess postnatal depression. The level of marital satisfaction was assessed by using Kansas marital satisfaction scale. Social support was assessed by Oslo social support scale. A simple random sampling technique was applied to select study participants. Simple and multiple linear regression were used to identify potential factors associated with the mother-infant bonding scale. A P-value of <0.05 was considered to declare statistical significance.ResultsIn this study, out of 420 postpartum mothers,53 (12.6%) had a risk for the quality of mother-infant bond difficulties between mother and an infant; 8.1% of mothers had a risk for rejection and pathological anger; 3.6% of mothers had a risk for infant-focused anxiety and 1.9% of mothers had risk for incipient abuse of an infant. Maternal depression status [adjusted β coefficient (β) = 2.31, 95% CI: (1.98, 2.64)], non-union marital status [β = 15.58, 95% CI: (9.88, 21.27)], being government employee [β = −5.68, 95% CI: (−9.71, −1.64)], having current pregnancy complication [β = −7.28, 95% CI: (−12.27, −2.29)], being non-breastfeeding mother [β = 7.66, 95% CI: (2.94, 12.38)], substance use history [β = −6.55, 95% CI: (−12.80, −0.30)], and social support [β = −2, 95% CI: (−2.49, −1.50)] were statistically significant factors for mother-infant bonding.ConclusionGenerally, a significant number of mothers had mother-infant bonding difficulties in the postpartum period. Preventing strategies for bonding difficulties focus on social support during pregnancy, screening postpartum mothers for postpartum depression, and special attention to substance users, non-union maternal status, and non-breastfeeding mothers.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Impaired Maternal–Infant Bonding among Mothers Attending Young Child Clinic in Kampala, Uganda

“…This is in agreement with other studies that showed higher bonding impairment in first-time mothers than mothers who already had other children [13,24,44]. Similar to other studies, other maternal factors like mode of delivery, antenatal attendance, birth complications, and skin-to-skin contact had no significant effect on maternal-infant bonding [2,45,47]. However, it should be noted that two previous studies showed that skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby enhances maternal-infant bonding [6,47].…”

“…The PBQ was specifically chosen to measure mother–infant bonding in this study because it is a commonly used measure that has been shown to be reliable and valid across different countries, languages, and cultures [ 11 , 14 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. In Africa, it has been used in Egypt [ 15 ] and Ethiopia [ 2 ].…”

“…Mother–infant bonding was first described five decades ago as an emotional tie between a mother and baby [ 1 ]. Others have since described it as an affective connection or passionate tie between the mother and her infant [ 2 , 3 ]. Maternal–infant bonding is characterized by emotional warmth and affection between the mother and the infant [ 4 ].…”

“…Poor bonding is associated with complications including failure to thrive, psychosocial disorder, separation anxiety disorder, avoidant personality disorder, delinquency, and learning problems [ 10 , 11 ]. The prevalence of bonding problems among mother–infant dyads has been reported in studies conducted in the Global North and South and varies greatly from 4 to 45% [ 2 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

Effect of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy on mother-to-infant bonding and the mediation effect of postpartum depression: the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

“…In contrast, poor MIB has been noted as a risk factor for the growth and development of children, similar to child neglect or abuse [ 6 ]. In recent years, studies have reported that a large number of mothers experience MIB disorder [ 7 – 11 ]. In Japan, for instance, MIB disorder reportedly affects 10–21% of mothers [ 12 – 14 ].…”