FACTORS AFFECTING POSTPARTUM BONDING AMONG PRIMIGRAVIDA WOMEN WITH FEAR OF BIRTH AT ODINJO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

Mother-infant bonding is a process that begins during pregnancy and develops after birth. Adaptation to motherhood is closely related to creating an emotional bond with the baby, and it has been shown that physical and psychological problems are important indicators of bonding disorders. The study investigated factors affecting postpartum bonding among primigravida women with fear of birth at Odinjo Community Health Center. This was a survey research design. A Convenient sampling technique was employed to select 100 respondents. A self-structured questionnaire that was validated and reliability index of 0.7 was used to collect data. Data was entered in to SPSS version 25. Hypothesis tested using chi-square at 0.05 level of significance. Research questions were answered using frequency tables and percentages. The result revealed the following positive responses towards impaired bonding; 31% anxiety, 33% mood disorders, 31% stress, 25% poor decision making, 34% rejection and anger, 25% depression, 30% panic disorders, 23% learning abilities, 20% risk of baby abuse affects, 20% anaemia complication, 39% history of abortion, 27% history of still birth, 29% desire to have twins or triplets. Regarding social factors the study revealed 45% social support received from husband, 41% social support received from parents, 40% social Support received from parents-in-law, 43% social support received from other family, 35% social support received from friends, 44% low educational level, 40% age, 37% cultural belief, 36% religious belief, 46% employment status, 32% low monthly income. The study revealed 29% poor knowledge about the psychological factors iffecting postpartum bonding generally, 40.5% poor knowledge about the social factors affecting ostpartum bonding. In conclusion, the study recommends that a focus on women's mental health during pregnancy is necessary in order to avoid negative effects of impaired bonding on the infant.