“Consensus on an infant massage programme for high risk infants from resource constrained contexts: a Delphi Study with Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists.”

Abstract

The attachment of the mother to her infant is one which aims to provide the foundation for the infant’s well-being and adaptation (Bowlby, 1958; Carter, et al., 2005 in Atzil, Hendler, & Feldman, 2011 p.1). However, it is evident that primary caregivers present with difficulty with bonding and attachment with infants who were born in the high risk category as a result of delayed responses from the infant to the caregiver’s cues as well as from a variety of emotional reactions in the caregiver (McClure, 2000, p. 167). This alongside limited access to financial resources, limited transport and underresourced hospitals (Salojee, Rosenbaum, & Stewart, 2011, p. 37) contributes to making the attachment and bonding process difficult. This study aims to explore this dynamic and to develop an infant massage programme, through consensus from Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists. As shown in literature this will assist this dyad in the attachment and bonding process amidst all the challenges and constraints which they are faced with.