Enhancing Maternal-Infant Attachment in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit During the Pandemic Prevention Period

• Published in: Hu li za zhi Vol. 68; no. 6; pp. 73 - 82
• Main Authors: Wang, Ling-Ying, Wu, Tai-Jing, Lu, Tsai-Lin, Lin, Kai-Hui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese
• Published: China (Republic : 1949- ) Taiwan Nurses Association 01.12.2021
• Subjects: Attachment; COVID-19; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Intensive care; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; Mothers; Neonatal care; Newborn babies; Pandemics; Premature babies; Premature birth; SARS-CoV-2; pandemic prevention; maternal attachment; family-centered care; neonatal intensive care unit
• ISSN: 0047-262X
• DOI: 10.6224/JN.202112_68(6).10

Parent-infant attachment is affected by parent-infant interaction. The limitations on related visitations during the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the opportunity to engage in kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact) activities. These changes impacted parent-infant attachment in the neonatal intensive care unit. After investigation, the score of premature infant-parent attachment was found to be only 64.6 points during the period in which visitation limitations were in effect. To enhance maternal-premature infant attachment during the pandemic period by 10% (from an average score of 64.6 to 71.1). This project involved nurses playing audio files provided by mothers to their premature infants, and recording a video and taking pictures of the infants during this process. This project used a cloud platform as bidirectional pipelines. Furthermore, emotional support and caring information were provided to the mothers via expressive arts therapy and phone interviews. After the intervention, the premature infant-parent at