Determinants of Prenatal Attachment Based on Sociodemographic and Obstetric Factors in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Prenatal attachment reflects the emotional bond between a mother and her fetus and plays a crucial role in maternal and neonatal outcomes, including maternal readiness, health behaviors during pregnancy, and postnatal bonding. Suboptimal prenatal attachment may negatively affect maternal psychological adaptation and infant care. However, evidence on the combined influence of sociodemographic and obstetric factors remains limited. This study aimed to analyze the determinants of prenatal attachment based on sociodemographic and obstetric factors among pregnant women. A quantitative analytic study with a cross-sectional design was conducted among 130 pregnant women selected using consecutive sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires on sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics and a validated prenatal attachment inventory. Data analysis included univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses using logistic regression. The findings revealed that maternal age (p = 0,042),  gestational age (p = 0,031), parity (p = 0,021), and history of pregnancy complications (p = 0,037) were significantly associated with prenatal attachment (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that gestational age was the most dominant factor influencing prenatal attachment with OR = 3.21, 95% CI = 1.75–5.88, p = 0.001. Prenatal attachment is influenced by a combination of sociodemographic and obstetric factors, with gestational age as the strongest determinant. These findings highlight the importance of integrating psychosocial assessment into antenatal care, including early screening and targeted interventions to enhance maternal–fetal attachment and improve maternal and neonatal outcomes..