Controlled Study of Mothers and Children in Hospital

Abstract

In recent years increasing attention has been paid to the ?motional problems which sometimes occur when children are admitted to hospital. Numerous papers have been written on the subject and there seem to be three general conclusions. Firstly, all children under 3 years of age and most of those under 5 are emotionally disturbed by admission to hospital. This is shown not only by their behaviour in the ward but also by their adverse reactions when they return home (Jessner and Kaplan, 1948 ; Robertson, 1952 ; Jackson et al., 1952, 1953 ; Schaffer and Callender, 1959). Secondly, though improved hospital conditions, better play and educational facilities, and greater awareness on the part of hospital staff of the emotional needs of children can lessen trauma for older children, the younger ones cannot be consoled for the loss of their mother by these means (Prugh et al., 1953 ; Illingworth and Holt, 1955 ; Vaughan, 1957 ; Plank et al., 1959). Thirdly, those workers who have published reports on mother and child units have been impressed by the beneficial effects of these on the child (Spence, 1946, 1947, 1951 ; MacCarthy, 1957 ; Craig and McKay, 1958 ; MacCarthy et al, 1962 ; Riley et al., 1965). Though consistent agreement exists on these points, there has been a conspicuous lack of systematic study in this field. It was therefore decided to carry out a clinical trial in an effort to evaluate the claims which have been made for mother-and child units.