224323 Anxiety & Social Support among African-American and Latina Mothers with Premature Infants at Social-Environmental Risk

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM

Camille Fabiyi, MPH , College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Kristin M. Rankin, PhD , School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Kathleen F. Norr, PhD , Department of Women, Children and Family Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing, Chicago, IL
Rosemary White-Traut, PhD , College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
        
Background: Anxiety is heightened for mothers of premature infants, potentially interfering with early mothering.

Objective: To describe the relationships among race/ethnicity, language, anxiety and social support for mothers of premature infants.

Methods: We analyzed postnatal baseline interview data from a randomized trial testing a behavioral intervention for mothers and premature infants (29-34 weeks gestational age) with at least two of ten social-environmental risk factors, e.g. poverty. Multivariable logistic regression examined the relationships between race/ethnicity and language, maternal state (STAI-Y1) and trait (STAI-Y2) anxiety, and social support (PRQ-2000). Anxiety (highest quartile) and social support (lowest quartile) were dichotomized.

Results: Latinas interviewed in Spanish (n = 36) were significantly more likely (p < 0.05) to report high state anxiety (47.2%) than Latinas interviewed in English (20.0%, n = 20) and African-Americans (9.5%, n = 42). Trait anxiety did not differ among the three groups. Spanish-speaking Latinas also were significantly more likely to have low social support (41.7%) compared to English-speaking Latinas (10%) and African-Americans (19%). Controlling for age, living arrangements, and social support, Spanish-speaking Latinas were 3.93 times (95% CI = 0.98, 15.9) more likely than African-Americans to report high state anxiety. English-speaking Latinas and African-Americans did not differ significantly in state anxiety. Social support was negatively associated with state anxiety in the multivariable model (p = 0.08).

Discussion: African-Americans have the lowest state anxiety following preterm delivery, perhaps reflecting higher prematurity rates and more familiarity with prematurity. Spanish-speaking Latinas need culturally appropriate interventions to reduce anxiety, including more Spanish-speaking staff.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe patterns of state and trait anxiety and social support among a sample of African-American and English- and Spanish-speaking Latina mothers of premature infants. 2. Recognize the need for interventions to reduce anxiety for Spanish-speaking Latinas with premature infants.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I serve as a Project Director on the Mothers and Growing Babies Study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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