The effect of attachment-based intervention program on attachment, prenatal expectation and stress level in pregnant women

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the effect of an attachment-based intervention program on attachment, prenatal expectation and stress levels in pregnant women. Material and Method: This research was conducted with 154 pregnant women (77 experiments, 77 controls) with pregnant women who applied to Malatya Training and Research Hospital Maternity and Children's Hospital between August 2020-February 2021. In the research was applied a personal information form, MAAS to evaluate attachment and PDQ-R to evaluate prenatal stress, and PMES to evaluate maternity expectations. ABIP was applied to pregnant women in the experimental group for 5-7 days. MAAS, PDQ-R, and PMES were applied as posttests to the pregnant women in both groups 5-7 days after the pretest. Numbers, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square, dependent and independent groups t-test were used in the analysis of the data. Results: After ABIP, the mean scores of prenatal mother attachment and positive expectations before birth were higher in pregnant women in the experimental group compared to the control group, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant in favor of the experimental group (p <0.001); Prenatal negative expectations and prenatal distress mean scores were lower in the experimental group than the control group, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant in favor of the experimental group (p <0.001). Conclusion: This research was found that ABIP applied during pregnancy increased maternal-fetal attachment level and positive prenatal expectations, and decreased prenatal distress level and negative prenatal expectations.