Abstract:
The purpose of this quasi experimental study was to evaluate the effects of a health promotion program
on mothers behavior towards infant development (birth-2 months). The samples included the primigravida
mothers ages 20-35 living in Photharam, with a normal full-term newborns. The samples were selected by a
purposive sampling method a 33 mothers were randomly assigned into an experimental group and 34 mothers
were assigned to a comparison group. There was an 8 week intervention period . During the first 2 weeks, there
was individual education for the mothers about child development at home and a group discussion at the Well-
Baby clinic in Photharam hospital. Data were collected by interview with questionnaires and by observing
mothers behavior through home visits as well as by evaluating infants in terms of child development by using the
Denver II test. Statistical analyses were performed by using percentage, mean, chi-square test, Fishers exact test,
independent t-test,and paired sample t-test.
The results showed that after the intervention, both the experimental and comparison groups had
significantly increased their mean scores of maternal knowledge, practice and behavioral observation as compared
to before the intervention (p-value < .05). However, the experimental group had significantly greater mean scores
concerning maternal knowledge and practice and behavioral observations compared to the comparison group (pvalue
< .001).
In regard to the infants development, both the experimental and comparison infants were not
significantly different in terms of the percentages of passing the Denver II test; however, at 2 months old the
experimental infants passed with higher scores on fine motor and adaptation development than the comparison
infants (p-value = 0.004).
The findings of this study indicated that the effects of the health promotion program on mothers behavior
towards infant development (birth-2 months) was positive and that the program should be used by
mothers community nurses and other health care providers.