Publication Type: Individual Poster
Abstract: Background and Aims: Little is known about conditions that support maternal competency in feeding very low birth-weight (VLBW) infants, and change in competency as infants grow older. Infant biologic condition assessed during hospital stay predicts well being, and, with family environmental conditions (e.g., poverty status and interpersonal problem solving competencies) may have a regulating effect on maternal feeding competency. We examined this competency and the contribution to it of biologic and family environmental conditions during the infant’s first post-term year.
Methods: With 66 families enrolled, data were collected from the medical record for the Neonatal Medical Index (NMI) and from self report for family poverty status (FPS; below or at/above the Federal threshold). We assessed MFC at 1, 4, 8, and 12 months with the 14 5-point rated items of the observational scale, Maternal Regulation of Affect and Behavior (MRAB). We used the Iowa Family Interaction Rating Scale at 1 and 8 months to assess the quality of both family solutions to infant-care problems (FSQ) and processes of negotiation and compromise (FNC). Maternal and family member scores were averaged to obtain FSQ and FNC measures for use in two discrete, fixed repeated occasions regression models (A, with FSQ; B, with FNC). The 1-month FSQ and FNC measures were used in both 1- and 4-month analyses. The 8-month measures were used in both 8- and 12-month analyses. Models A and B included NMI and FPS.
Key Results: Analyses revealed mean MRAB ratings were stable across assessments (between 3 and 4, SD = .6) for each of the four assessments. About 50% of the families had incomes below the poverty threshold. The NMI of almost 61% of the infants was consistent with high risk for medical sequelae. NMI had no significant effect on MRAB in either Model A or B. In both Models A and B, income above poverty threshold had the predicted significant, positive effect (p < .05) at 1, 8, and 12 months. In Model A, FSQ effect was not significant. In Model B, FNC effect was significant, but unexpectedly negative (p < .01) at both 1 and 4 months.
Conclusions: Results indicate that family environment, but not infant biologic condition, affects maternal feeding competence. The negative effect of FNC on MRAB at 1 and 4 months may indicate a higher level of differences between mothers and family members about infant caregiving in the first quarter post-term year than later.