The Effect of Home-Based Supportive-Educational Counseling on Primigravidas? Postpartum Stress

Objectives: Planned interventions can facilitate the maternal role for primiparous women by reducing postpartum stress. The present study aims to determine the effect of home-based supportive-educational counseling on primigravidas? postpartum stress. Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 100 primigravidas, who had routinely referred to health centers from May to June 2016 for postpartum care on the third to fifth day after delivery, were selected and randomly assigned into two intervention (n = 50) and control (n = 50) groups. The Hung Postpartum Stress Scale (HPSS) was used for data collection. The intervention group underwent three supportive-educational sessions at home and the control group underwent usual postpartum care and trainings. Postpartum stress in both groups was evaluated at the end of sixth week after delivery. The gathered data were analyzed using statistical tests including independent t test, paired-sample t test, chi-square, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results: The mean score of postpartum stress as well as scores of three subscales of maternal role attainment, negative body changes and lack of social support after implementing home-based supportive-educational intervention in the intervention group were significantly lower than the control group (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: Given that home-based supportive-educational intervention has a significant and positive effect on postpartum stress reduction; therefore, visiting at home and providing supportive-educational counseling are recommended for postpartum programs.