Mother-infant interaction during feeding time in children with congenital hypothyroidism

Abstract

Introduction: Mother-infant interaction is essential for the overall infant development, especially during the fi rst years of life, and in the presence of diseases such as congenital hypothyroidism or socio-emotional adverse conditions of the caregiver or the family. Objective: To evaluate the mother-infant interaction during feeding sessions in dyads with children with congenital hypothyroidism included in an early intervention program and compare dyads with healthy children. Materials and methods: Observational, comparative, cross-sectional and prospective study. Three groups were formed: 1) 159 dyads, children with congenital hypothyroidism who received early hormone replacement therapy and early intervention program; 2) 254 dyads with healthy children without early intervention program, and 3) 59 dyads with healthy children (no hypothyroidism) with early intervention program. The age of the children was 0-12 months. Dyads home were visited to videotape the interaction during feeding moment of the child. Interaction between three groups with total scores and subscales of Nursing Caregiver Assessment Feeding Scales was compared. Results: Group 1 scored higher on interaction, followed by Group 3 and Group 2, with lower scores. Birth order and maternal age had greater association with scores on the total test (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Major differences in the children’s scores were observed. Early intervention program strategies promote mother-infant interaction. The expected differences in interaction related with socioeconomic status or maternal education were lower with the effect of the exposure to an early intervention program.