* Corresponding author: Maliheh Abootalebi, Department of Community Health Nursing, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Tel: +98-0711-6474250, 09179186778; Fax: +98-0711-647425; Email: maliheabootalebi@gmail.com Akbarzadeh M, Moattari M, Abootalebi M. Effect of the BASNEF Model on Maternal-Fetal Attachment in the Pregnant Women Referring to the Prenatal Clinics Affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Iranian Journal of Neonatology. 2017 Sep: 8(3). DOI: 10.22038/ijn.2017.20521.1229 Original Article Open Access Effect of the BASNEF Model on Maternal-Fetal Attachment in the Pregnant Women Referring to the Prenatal Clinics Affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Marzieh Akbarzadeh 1 , Marzieh Moattari 2 , Maliheh Abootalebi 3* 1. Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research Center, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 2. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 3. Department of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran ABSTRACT Background: Prenatal attachment and positive adaptation with the concept of motherhood play a pivotal role in maternal and fetal health. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, and enabling factors (BASNEF) model on maternal fetal attachment in the pregnant women referring to prenatal clinics. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 100 nulliparous women in their third pregnancy trimester (36-41 weeks), who referred to the selected prenatal clinics in Shiraz, Iran during 2011-2012. Intervention was performed based on the BASNEF model in six training sessions for 90 minutes. Data collection tools were the Cranley’s maternal-fetal attachment scale and BASNEF model. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 18 using Pearson’s correlation-coefficient, independent t-test, and Chi-square at the significance level of 0.05. Results: After the intervention, a significant difference was observed in the mean score of maternal-fetal attachment in the intervention group compared to the control group (P<0.001). In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between the score of maternal-fetal attachment and enabling factors one month after the training in the intervention group (P=0.039). Conclusion: According to the results, training based on the BASNEF model could increase the maternal-fetal attachment in nulliparous pregnant women and improve the psychological health indicators of the neonates. Keywords: Attachment, BASNEF Model, Fetus, Mothers, Pregnancy Introduction Pregnancy is a natural, pleasant process in a woman’s life, which is also associated with significant stresses due to the physical and mental changes. Pregnancy helps women to enhance their knowledge of the maternal role (1, 2). Emotional attachment with the infant is considered to be an important aspect in the adaptation process of pregnant women with the concept of motherhood (3). Evidence shows the growing attachment between the mother and fetus during pregnancy, which is reflected in the behaviors of expecting mothers (4). Maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) is defined as the bond between pregnant women and fetus, which implies their emotional experiences (5, 6). In fact, MFA is described as the cognitive image of the mother toward the infant that potentially presents before birth, depending on the perceived emotional and cognitive abilities of the mother (7). According to John Bowlby's attachment theory, MFA initiates long before birth and gradually proceeds until the end of pregnancy and even during the postpartum period, with the peak speculated to be when the infant is aged three months. MFA plays a pivotal role in the maternal adaptation with pregnancy (8). Evidence suggests that the emergence of MFA is a predictive factor for the postpartum maternal attitude and function, mother-infant interaction, and attachment styles after birth. Mothers with a higher level of fetal attachment during pregnancy have been shown to have more effective interactions with their infants, which in turn has a substantial impact on the