While HIV/AIDs infections in the US have become fairly stable over the course of the last decade, twenty-eight percent of HIV-infected adults have children, and HIV-infected mothers are the most common caretakers with 76% of HIV infected mothers living with their children. While preventative measures such as testing of pregnant women and the use of antiretroviral drugs have reduced mother-infant transmission of HIV, these statistics still have garnered enough recognition for studies to be done. These studies have sought answers on the validity of using massage to help in both emotional and physical ailments that affect children who are diagnosed with, and have been exposed to HIV.
Multiple studies have shown that HIV-infected mothers are at risk for depression and high levels of stress, both of which may interfere with parenting. Having a positive parent-child relationship can serve as a protective factor for children of HIV-infected mothers.
A recent study aimed at enhancing maternal-infant interactions, decreasing parental stress, lowering maternal depression, and facilitating optimal infant growth by teaching HIV-infected mothers infant massage techniques. The researchers then gauged the usefulness and improvements to the mother-child interaction after massage techniques were introduced. The results of the study confirmed the hypothesis with HIV-infected mothers reporting reduced stress, parental distress in the follow-up, better ongoing feelings about physical contact with their child and increased growth in the infants.
Another study consisted of 28 neonates born to HIV-positive mothers, who were either placed in the massage therapy, or a control group. The massage group were given three 15-minute session of massage daily for ten days. The massaged group showed superior performance on almost every Brazelton newborn cluster score and had a greater daily weight gain at the end of the treatment period unlike the control group who showed declining performance. The weight gain seen in the massaged infants was unexpected and important. The infants who participated in this study were lower gestational age and birth weight than normal (not uncommon in HIV-exposed infants) but showed larger gains in weight that previous studies.
These studies show the benefit massage has to both the mother and child, as "exposure to HIV may contribute to developing delays and failure-to-thrive as early as the newborn period in the absence of compensatory treatment provided by extra stimulation." Using massage to provide the extra stimulation was essential to ensuring a thriving child.
With many healthcare providers, such as Massage Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Nurses and Physicians, becoming certified in pediatric touch therapies it is easier and easier to find a professional to assist in adding these benefits to an HIV exposed child's care plan. Parent training classes were provided to ensure parents became as educated on the massage treatment plan as their healthcare provider.
Copyright (c) 2013 Liddle Kidz Foundation Infant and Children's Pediatric Massage
Liddle Kidz Foundation offers expert advice for improving your child's health as well as resources for Infant massage training, massage for children & pediatric massage therapy. Tina Allen & The Liddle Kidz Foundation, share over ten years of expertise working with children and families on LiddleKidz.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tina_Allen
.jpg)
0 التعليقات:
Post a Comment