Vishari De Silva¹, Champa Wijesinghe¹, Thyagi Ponnamperuma¹, Gayani Punchihewa², Vijitha De Silva¹
1- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka
2- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka
Abstract Body
Introduction: Maternal competencies reflect the ability of a mother to care adequately for her baby without support from others. The quality of maternal caregiving has a significant effect on the baby’s emotional, physical, and social well-being, therefore identifying and educating the mother with poor maternal competencies is important.
Objective: To assess the levels and associated factors of maternal competencies during first six months of infancy among mothers of infants attending immunization clinics in Matara Medical Officer of Health (MOH) area.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a consecutive sample of 100 mothers accompanying their infants to the immunization clinics in Matara MOH area. A selfadministered questionnaire, including locally validated Maternal Competency Assessment Tool-Early Infancy (MCAT-EI), was employed to identify levels of maternal competencies and associated factors. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the predictors of maternal competencies.
Results: Among the mothers, 84% had good maternal competencies (mean total MCAT-EI ±SD=88.9±9.6). The highest level of competencies was observed in identifying normal growth and development (mean±SD=92.7±11.0) and ensuring sleep and comfort (mean±SD=90.9±12.2). In bivariate analysis, a higher maternal competency level was significantly associated with multiparity (p=0.02), and maternal unemployment (p=0.006), while both variables remained significant predictors of higher maternal competencies in early infancy after controlling for confounders (OR=4.0, p=0.02 and OR=5.18, p=0.007 , respectively).
Conclusions: A majority of the mothers demonstrated good maternal competencies, with multiparity and employment being significant predictors. Targeted postnatal care education of primi-mothers during antenatal sessions and establishing flexible work arrangements during early postnatal period are recommended.