The Effects of a Regular Infant Massage Program on Infant Growth
Keywords:
infant massage, massage program, regular massage, infant growthAbstract
Infant massage is an activity that can help enhance growth and development of an infant who is experiencing a period of rapid growth. The purpose of this intervention study was to determine the effects of infant growth following a massage program which was performed on a regular basis for a duration of 8 weeks. The samples consisted of 48 pairs of mother-infant dyads at a well-baby clinic which were then divided into a control and an experimental group with 24 pairs in each group. The research instruments used within the study consisted of data collection forms, a weight scale, a baby length measuring board, a head circumference measuring tape, and an infant massage program. Data were analyzed with the statistical use of descriptive statistics, independent t-test, Chi-square test, and Gaussian regression.
The findings of this study indicated that after 4 weeks of having the mothers massage their infants and completing the infant massaging program, the participants in the experimental group had a significant higher mean of occipito-frontal circumference and body weight than those in the control group (p < .01), but the length was not found to be significantly different. Moreover, after 8 weeks of completing the infant massaging program, the experimental group demonstrated a significant higher mean of occipito-frontal circumference and body weight than those in the control group (p < .05 and p < .01, respectively), while the length remained statistically insignificant. The results suggest that the regular infant massage program promote infant physical growth as assessed by the parameters indicating an increase in growth in the head circumference and total body weight. The results further encourage mothers to continue infant massaging on a daily basis.
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