Korean J Child Health Nurs.  1997 Aug;3(2):117-130.

The Descriptive Study on the Mother's Responsiveness to Infant Cue

• Kwon MK

Abstract

This research was to examine the mother's responsiveness to infant cue in order to improve interaction between mother and infant. The subjects were 144 mothers who gave birth to at general hospital for a public health center in Kangnung. The gestational age of infants was more than 38weeks and birth weight was more than 2500g. A questionnaire was developed by applying the content about infant cue in Barnard's NCAST program. This questionnaire was revised through the examination of expert is in this field. The questions were classified into 3 categories : 10 questions about engagement cue, 11 questions about disengagement cue, and 9 questions about general cue and reflex behavior. Each item measured the mother's responsiveness to infant cue using 5 scales : 2 positive responsiveness. 1 negative responsiveness, and 1 meaningless, 1 for in case which mother can't recognize the meaning of reaction. The result presented that mothers showed positive reaction to engagement cue. However, most mothers still didn't recognize that their infants can lead a mother-infant interaction and show active response in interaction. Mothers tended to treat them as just passive objects. In disengagement cue, mothers tended not to give proper responsiveness to their infants when the infants desired feeding or not and they did not desire mother-infant interaction. In general cue and reflex behavior, the mother's reaction was positive and they took it granted as a infant's behavior. When each item was analyzed by the general characteristics of the subject, there was significant differences according to the mother's age, birth weight, average house income, birth order, feeding type, nature of infant, and infant's age.

MeSH Terms

Birth Order
Birth Weight
Cues*
Financing, Organized
Gestational Age
Hospitals, General
Humans
Infant*
Mother-Child Relations
Mothers
Parturition
Public Health
Reflex
Weights and Measures
Child Health
Surveys and Questionnaires