| Summary |
Recent developments and changes in maternal roles and health care consumer roles have led to changes in the perinatal health care. One change is a shorter period of hospitalization for childbirth. The focus of this study was to examine the effect of short term hospitalization and separation for childbirth upon the behavior of the firstborn, as perceived by their mothers. It was hypothesized that there would be no difference in mothers' perceptions of their firstborns' behaviors as a result of separation for childbirth. A questionnaire, Maternal Perception of Preschool Child Behavior, was administered to mothers of firstborn preschool children (n=18) during hospitalization for the birth of the second child. The second part of the questionnaire was administered to the subjects (n=16) one week later. This questionnaire asked for mothers' perceptions of changes in their preschool chiIds' behavior in the areas of eating, sleeping, toileting and general behavior following the hospitalization and separation. Analysis revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in perceived behaviors in the area of eating, with a mean change of -1.81 [t( 16) =-3. 87, p=0. 002]. Therefore, the hypothesis was rejected at the .05 level of significance. The other behaviors of sleeping, toileting and general behavior did not have a statistically significant change in scores. Further analysis revealed a significant correlation between the hours of separation and scores in the area of toileting (r=0. 5736, p=0.020). There was a also a correlation of preparation for the birth and separation with the scores of general behavior (r=--.5832, p=0.013). Reliability analysis revealed an instrument with low reliability which may be increased through the deletion of certain items. Analysis were not performed based on improved alpha scores and reliability through item deletion. The results of the study cannot be extrapolated to the general population because of the small sample sice and because of the low reliability of the instrument. This researcher recommends further reliability testing of the instrument as well as testing of the first borns' reactions to separation from their mothers. Results of the study indicate that separation does have some effect on mothers' perceptions of their firstborns' behavior. It is unknown whether this effect is statistically significant due to the low reliability of the instrurnent. This study does, however, point to the continued need for nurses to be aware of possible changes in childrens' behavior and the need to prepare mothers and children for separation. |
