Attitudes and beliefs of expectant women toward participation in rooming-in

The purpose of this study was to increase health care providers' knowledge of the influential factors determining a mother's choice to room-in (or not) with her infant in order to facilitate changes necessary to foster optimum maternal-infant relationships. The tool for data collection was a questionnaire devised to identify women's attitudes and beliefs toward participation in rooming-in, based on components of Ajzen and Fishbein's theory of reasoned action. A convenience sample of 78 women attending two Air Force obstetrical clinics was used in the study. Frequency data, correlation coefficients and t tests were used in data analysis. This sample indicated a positive attitude toward rooming-in, and that rooming-in would lead to a favorable outcome on mother, baby, attachment and parenting skills. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.70 - 0.97) existed between the women's attitudes and beliefs about participation in rooming-in. The husband was the most frequently identified person who could influence the woman's own intention to room-in.