Neonatal Determinants of Mothers’ Affective Involvement in Newly Delivered Cameroonian Women

Georges Pius Kamsu Moyo,Audrey Thérese Mbang,Sonia Zebaze,Laura Kuate Makowa,Christiale Batibonack,Raïssa Monayong Mendomo

doi:10.11648/j.ajp.20200602.21

Abstract

Background: Emotional instability represents a common psychological impairment experienced by newly delivered women, susceptible to impact mothers’ affective involvement and hence mother-infant bonding. It may occur as early as during the first two weeks of early postpartum, manifesting firstly with the baby blues also known as postpartum or maternity blues, and secondly with postpartum depression or psychosis. Mother-infant bonding as defined in this study refers to the emotional attachment that normally exist between a mother and her newly born infant. Factors susceptible to impact mother-infant bonding may be maternal, environmental, neonatal, or a combination of all, with possible repercussions on the neonate’s neurological and psycho-affective development. Objective: We aimed to identify and assess neonatal determinants of mothers’ affective involvement few days after delivery in Cameroonian women. Method: A case-control study was carried out over a period of four months in 2015, in two teaching hospitals of Yaoundé, Cameroon among 321 newly delivered women of which 107 had been diagnosed with emotional instability (the cases), and 214 emotionally stable women (the controls). Results: Neonatal factors associated with mothers’ emotional swings also known as the baby blues were babies presenting health problems (OR=4.33; p<0.001), mothers’ difficulties in taking care of the baby (OR=7.65; p<0.001), having given birth to a baby of female sex (OR=1.66; p=0.033). Conclusion: Emotional instability and mood swings causing affective impairments in mothers few days after delivery may be associated with a number of neonatal factors which account for its onset. There exists a susceptibility to the alteration of mother-infant bonding which can resound on neonatal neurological and psycho-affective development. This may be prevented by optimal preparation for maternity including baby care practices, perinatal counselling, mothers’ assistance, and encouraged breastfeeding.

Highlights

Studies on mother-infant affective attachment over the years have elucidated the postpartum period as a special moment for the establishment of bonding [1]
Babies with health problems characterized by the notions of absence of afterbirth cry and resuscitation were significantly associated with the onset of mothers’ emotional instability (OR=4.33, p < 0.001)
A number of neonatal factors significantly associated with mothers’ emotional instability were identified in our survey

Summary

Introduction

Studies on mother-infant affective attachment over the years have elucidated the postpartum period as a special moment for the establishment of bonding [1]. Emotional instability represents a common psychological impairment experienced by newly delivered women, susceptible to impact mothers’ affective involvement and mother-infant bonding. It may occur as early as during the first two weeks of early postpartum, manifesting firstly with the baby blues known as postpartum or maternity blues, and secondly with postpartum depression or psychosis. There exists a susceptibility to the alteration of mother-infant bonding which can resound on neonatal neurological and psycho-affective development This may be prevented by optimal preparation for maternity including baby care practices, perinatal counselling, mothers’ assistance, and encouraged breastfeeding

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion