Examining the impact of an emotional stimulation intervention on interactions between Ethiopian mothers and their infants in the context of treatment for malnutrition.

Knight, Elizabeth (2016) Examining the impact of an emotional stimulation intervention on interactions between Ethiopian mothers and their infants in the context of treatment for malnutrition. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Infant malnutrition in developing countries, such as Ethiopia, has been linked to a
number of negative outcomes (Grantham-McGregor et al., 2007). Evidence suggests that aspects
of the relationship between mother and infant may be affected by malnutrition, in terms of
attachment (Valenzuela, 1990) and the opportunities for emotional stimulation within the
mother-infant relationship (Cravioto & Delicardie, 1975; 1976). This study examines whether an
emotional stimulation intervention delivered in addition to emergency food supplementation,
may improve the quality of mother-infant interactions.
This study uses between-subjects post test and correlational designs. Interactions were
recorded for 75 mother-infant dyads, who were enrolled on a randomised controlled trial,
comparing the impact of an emotional stimulation intervention on infant weight gain during
treatment for malnutrition. Mother-infant interactions were rated using two established coding
systems, adapted for the current study.
The results indicated that mothers who had received an emotional stimulation
intervention in addition to infant nutritional supplementation, were rated as more positive in
their interaction with their infants in comparison to the control group. The nature of the
interaction was also rated as significantly more positive for mothers and infants in the
intervention group. There were no differences between control and intervention groups on infant
positive affect and behaviour. This may be attributable to timeliness and methods of
measurement. A significant relationship was found between the rate of infant weight gain and
the quality of the interaction. Path analysis failed to find support for pathway between the
quality of maternal interaction and infant weight gain. This was an exploratory analysis and
results were attributed to a lack of statistical power to detect an effect.
The findings are considered in relation to theories of the mother-infant relationship,
models of malnutrition, methodological rigor. Recommendations for further research are
discussed.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Depositing User:	Users 4971 not found.
Date Deposited:	16 Mar 2017 11:57
Last Modified:	16 Mar 2017 11:57
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/62988
DOI:

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