Efficacy of an Early Self-care-Based Education Program on the Self-evaluation of Primiparous Postpartum Mothers: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: During the post-partum period, due to the lack of knowledge about post-partum complications and care, women, especially primiparous women, lack the adequate skills to adapt to new conditions and have no confidence to care for themselves and their infants. The early mothers' assessment, education, counseling, and nursing interventions can increase their adaptation and reduce their incompatible responses to their infant and partner. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of early self-care based education program on primiparous women’s self-evaluation. Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted from May to October 2018 on 58 primiparous women referred to the Neonatal Screening Center in Karaj (IRAN). A random allocation method was applied to select intervention and control groups. The data were collected using a three-part questionnaire consisting of general, developmental, and health deviation post-partum evaluation made by researchers. The intervention group received three education sessions throughout the 3 - 5, 10 - 15, and 17 - 22 days after childbirth. The control group received routine post-partum care. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics (such as mean, standard deviation, and absolute frequency) and statistical tests (including t-test, paired t-test, and chi-square) or non-parametric statistical tests (e.g., the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney test) using SPSS version 19. Results: Before the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean total self-evaluation scores between the intervention (131.269 ± 12.742) and control (137 ± 9.600) groups (P-value = 0.073), but six weeks after delivery, a significant difference was observed in the mean self-evaluation scores between the intervention (149.692 ± 7.625) and control (122.923 ± 11.495) groups (P-value < 0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study showed that early self-care education program was effective for primiparous women's self-evaluation and increased the post-partum adaptation of the women.

Impact of health educational program for pregnant women on their knowledge regarding to postpartum and newborn care

“…This result may be due to the overall participation of the study sample being primigravida only between both studies. In the same line study with the current study finding, a study done by Chamangasht et al [16] , illustrated that Based on the dependent-test results, no meaningful difference in the groups' mean total self-evaluation scores before the education program, but there was a clear distinction afterward. Due to inexperience, insufficient education, and inadequate preparation, primiparous women in this study experienced significant physical and emotional difficulties in the postpartum period.…”

The Influence of Psychophysical Preparation of Pregnant Women on the Outcome of Childbirth and Postpartum Recovery

“…Based on the processed results of the study, we see a significant mental improvement in women who participated in psychoeducation to reduce the fear of childbirth on the outcome of childbirth and psychological well-being [5]. They are in a more positive psychological state regarding childbirth and have a higher level of self-confidence and higher self-efficacy values [6]. They are emotionally stronger, so they have a lower level of anxiety [7] than the control group.…”

Effect of Levin’s Conservation Model Application on Fatigue and Sleep Quality among Postpartum Women

“…Table (4): illustrates that there was no statistically significance difference between study and control group regarding mean score of total fatigue and total energy at pre intervention (P= >0.05) while there were highly statistically significant difference between study and control group 6 weeks after intervention (P= <0.001).…”