Examination of postgraduate theses on mother-infant attachment in Turkey

Aim: This systematic review systematically examines the postgraduate theses on mother-infant attachment. Material and Method: The study used a qualitative design. The study data were collected from 15 to 30 March 2023 in the Council of Higher Education National Thesis Center database using the keywords "mother-baby attachment." Forty-nine theses, completed between 2007 and 2023 and registered to the Institute of Health Sciences, were reached. Thirty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. The type of research, the type of research used in the research, and the sample were examined systematically. Results: It has been observed that the number of postgraduate theses on mother-infant attachment has increased in recent years. It was determined that 33% (n=12) of the postgraduate nurses were midwifery, and 67% (n=24) were those made in nursing departments. 81% (n=29) of the theses were master's, 19% (n=7) were doctoral theses, 61% (n=22) of the theses were descriptive, and 28% (n=10) were randomized controlled studies. 5.5% (n=2) were quasi-experimental studies, and 5.5% (n=2) were case-control studies. Conclusion: It has been determined that master's theses are mostly descriptive of the current situation, and doctoral theses are experimental studies that involve intervention. These are often made in the fields of nursing and midwifery. It is recommended to conduct more studies with a high level of evidence, experimental or qualitative design, examining the relationship between mother-infant attachment and the factors affecting it.