Evaluating the effect of prenatal interventions on maternal-foetal attachment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Elieh Abasi, Afsaneh Keramat, Narjes Sadat Borghei and 2 others
PMID 33318807WHAT IT FOUND
Prenatal interventions increased maternal–foetal attachment overall, but fetal movement counting alone did not.
Midwives and nurses should not expect counting alone to strengthen attachment.
Key findings
01The pooled analysis found a significant overall effect of prenatal interventions on maternal–foetal attachment (MD = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.30–2.03; p value = .008).
02Fetal movement counting alone did not significantly increase maternal–foetal attachment (MD = 0.36; 95% CI = −0.23–0.95; p value = .23).
03Counselling interventions significantly increased maternal–foetal attachment (MD = 1.69; CI = 0.36–3.02; p value = .01).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Most included studies were conducted in Iran and other Asian countries, so the results may not apply to all populations. The meta-analysis included only five studies, so the pooled estimates are based on a small evidence base. Participants and staff could not be blinded to prenatal education interventions, and performance bias was rated high. None of the included studies had postintervention follow-up, so it is unclear whether attachment gains lasted. The studies used different interventions, gestational timings, scales and designs, including non-randomised studies. Fetal movement counting results were contradictory: some studies showed improvement and others did not. Only English-language studies from 2000 to 2019 with total attachment scores were included, which may miss relevant evidence.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The work was funded by Shahroud University of Medical Sciences.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that fetal movement counting alone improves maternal–foetal attachment. The pooled analysis of fetal movement counting was not significant (MD = 0.36; 95% CI = −0.23–0.95; p value = .23).