Effectiveness of Care for Child Development Program on the Sensitivity and Responsiveness Skills of Mothers

OBJECTIVES: The present study was done to analyze the impact of the "care for child development" program on the sensitivity and responsiveness skills among mothers of children at risk of developmental delay. MATERIALS & METHODS: This study was a quasi-experimental research with a pretest-posttest design and experimental and control groups. The statistical population included all mothers with children at risk of developmental delay in Tabriz. Fifty mothers were selected through purposive sampling. Then, they were divided into two groups of 25 cases (one experimental group and one control group) using simple random sampling. The experimental group received training about the “care for child development“ program, while the control group received no training. The Social-Emotional Assessment/Evaluation Measure Family Profile (SEAM TM family profile) and Maternal Caregiving Quality Scale were the research measurement tools. The obtained data were evaluated by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and independent t-test using SPSS software version 20. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in maternal caregiving quality and responsiveness, provision of appropriate activities, predictable programs, and provision of play environment and safe home (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: The results showed that the care for child development program has positive effects on sensitivity and responsiveness skills of mothers of children at risk of developmental delays and can be considered and applied as a practical plan in national health policies.