[Paternal-fetal attachment from the maternal perspective].

Area of Science:

• Perinatal Psychology
• Maternal-Child Health
• Family Studies

Background:

• Paternal-fetal attachment is increasingly recognized for its impact on child development and the postnatal paternal bond.
• Understanding this attachment is vital for supporting healthy family dynamics.
• Recent research highlights the significance of early paternal involvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize paternal-fetal attachment from the maternal perspective.
• To assess attachment in puerperal women at a public hospital in the Metropolitan Region.
• To identify factors influencing paternal-fetal bonding during pregnancy.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional observational study design.
• Interviews with hospitalized puerperal women using questionnaires on sociodemographic variables.
• Application of the validated Paternal-fetal Attachment Scale (maternal perspective).

Main Results:

• Mean paternal-fetal attachment score was 41.5 (range 10-50).
• Higher scores were observed when parents cohabited, had relationships over two years, and for planned pregnancies before 12 weeks.
• No significant differences were found based on the number of children, nationality, or educational level.

Conclusions:

• Paternal-fetal attachment is primarily influenced by the parental relationship dynamics.
• Individual characteristics of parents play a lesser role in paternal-fetal bonding.
• The paternal-fetal bond should be conceptualized within the context of the parental triad.