240266 Confidence in infant care and recognition of infant behavior among women with multiple socio-environmental risks who deliver premature infants

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Rosemary White-Traut, PhD , 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
Camille Fabiyi, MPH , College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Li Duan, MS , College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Kathleen Norr, PhD , College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
Background: The difficulty that mothers of a premature infant have in recognizing behavioral cues (RIB) and gaining confidence in premature infant care (CPIC) may be exacerbated by multiple socio-environmental risk factors (SE risks). Objective: To describe the relationship between number of SE risks, RIB and CPIC. Methods: We analyzed baseline interview data from an ongoing randomized trial testing a behavioral intervention for 135 mothers and premature infants (29-34 weeks gestational age) with at least two of nine SE risks. SE risks included minority status (97.8%; African-American = 47.4%, Latina = 50.4%); poverty (<185% Federal Poverty Level, 91.1%); depressive symptoms/mental illness (51.1%); < high school education (37.0%); 2+ children <24 months (33.3%); high trait anxiety (27.4%); low social support (23.0%); age <20 (17.0%); and 4+ children (17.0%). Multivariable logistic regression examined the effect of 5+ SE risks on mothers' CPIC and RIB (recognition of pictures illustrating behavioral states and cues). Results: For these mothers, 28.9% had 5+ total SE risks, 40.6% had low RIB (<80% of items correct) and 23.7% had low CPIC (<80% of maximum score). Mothers with 5+ SE risks had a 2.6 times increased odds (95% CI = 1.2, 6.0) of low CPIC, controlling for Latina ethnicity, an independent predictor (OR = 4.9, 95% CI = 2.3, 10.4). SE risks and ethnicity were not associated with low RIB. Discussion: All mothers of premature infants need help recognizing premature infant behavioral state and cues, and mothers with multiple SE risks need additional support to gain confidence in infant care.

Learning Areas:
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe patterns of socio-environmental risk factors in a sample of primarily African-American and Latina mothers of premature infants. 2. Understand the relationship between having multiple risk factors and maternal confidence in premature infant care and recognition of infant behavior.

Keywords: Child Care, Low-Income

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am a professor of nursing who has overseen numerous research and intervention studies with socially high risk mothers and infants. I am also the the PI of the present 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.