Evaluation of televised anticipatory guidance to primiparae.

In a controlled study, programs offering televised anticipatory guidance to primiparae during the immediate postpartum period were shown to have a beneficial effect on a mother's perceptions of her infant as measured by the Neonatal Perception Inventory (NPI). Among mothers viewing the programs, a significant increase occurred (P less than .01) in the number having a positive perception of their infants at age 1 month. Since the Neonatal Perception Inventory has proved a reliable indicator of a child's emotional well-being at age 4 1/2, televised guidance is recommended as an effective, economical measure with a potential for reducing the incidence of emotional disorder in children.