The relationship of maternal-fetal attachment and health behavior among pregnant women in the rural area of south Taiwan

Good health practices in pregnant women can positively affect their unborn children's health by reducing risk factors. Increasing maternal-fetal attachment may be one method to reduce poor birth outcomes. The study examined the effect of maternal-fetal attachment on health behaviors, controlling for prenatal and maternal characteristics. The two research hypotheses were tested: (a) Pregnant women in rural areas in south Taiwan will have poorer health practices than in urban areas; (b) The level of maternal-fetal attachment will predict health behaviors of Taiwanese pregnant women.;A cross sectional research design was used. Three hundred ninety pregnant women were recruited to complete seven instruments including the Health Practices Questionnaire-II, Modified Maternal Fetal Attachment Scale, Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile, Attitudes to Pregnancy and Baby Subscale, SF-12v2 Health Survey Chinese (Taiwan), and prenatal and maternal characteristics questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, factor analysis and sequential multiple and logistic regression. The health behaviors were measured globally and divided in two subscales (Avoiding Harmful Behaviors and Making Healthy Choices) of the Health Practices Questionnaire-II based on factor analysis. The Modified Maternal Fetal Attachment Scale was also measured globally and divided in two subscales (Preparing Maternal Role Tasks and Communicating with the Baby) of based on factor analysis.;The rural area did not predict health behaviors of pregnant women. However, preparing for the maternal role (as a subscale of maternal-fetal attachment) did predict health behaviors in pregnant women. Additional findings indicated that pregnant women who were older, married, at higher educational, non-poverty levels, had fewer children at home, and wanted their pregnancy were more likely to practice better health behaviors during their pregnancy. The descriptive results revealed that pregnant women did not get enough fluid without caffeine, regular exercise and dental care.;Nurses should identify pregnant women with significant predictors of health behaviors to provide more support and health information through telephone and e-mail contact to promote better health behaviors for pregnant women. The findings also could be used as a reference for health policies, nursing education and research.