Effects of skin-to-skin contact of fathers with newborn babies in neonatal intensive care unit to father-infant attachment and marital adjustment

Object: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of skin-to-skin contact of the father with new-born babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to the attachment of father-infant and in marital adjustment. Material and Method: The study was designed as a quasi-experimental study. The sampling involved from 60 father (30 experimental group-30 control group). The data were collected by using ''Demographic Data Form", "The Marital Adjustment Test (MAT)" and "Postnatal Paternal-Infant Attachment Questionnaire (PPAQ)''. Results: The fathers who participated in this study were in similar ages, education, occupation, income, and marriage period (p>0,05). Total average score for MAT was 49,20±6,58 for experimental group and, is 50,37±5,36 in control group (p>0,05). The total average score for MAT after the intervention was 50,47±7,78 in experimental group and 50,37±4,78 in control group. PPAQ average score after intervention in the experimental group was 78,96±5,94 and 76,82±5,21 in control group. However the average score was higher for the experimental group than the control group, there was not any statistically significant difference between two groups (p>0,05). There was a positive but weak relationship total score of MAT after intervention with total scale score and PPAQ love and pride subscale in the experimental group (r=0,374, p<0,05; r=0,375, p<0,05). Conclusion: It was concluded that SSC doesn't have any influence on father-infant attachment and marital adjustment, but after the intervention, there were a significant positive relationship between father-infant attachment and marital adjustment. Key words: Skin-to-skin contact, father-infant attachment, marital adjustment, neonatal intensive care unit