Effect of family member’s counseling on postnatal perceived stress in Iranian women: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background &Aims: Family members' support during postnatal period is so important for women and neonates health. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of counseling with family member's on postnatal perceived stress in Iranian women.Methods: In this randomized clinical trial a group of 294 women and their husbands and family members randomly allocated into two intervention (149) and control (145) groups. Women in intervention group received involvement program. Both groups completed the Postnatal Perceived Stress Inventory, and a demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U, Wilcoxon tests and independent t-test. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results: Findings revealed a significant reduction in total postnatal perceived stress (t = 8.93, p<0.001) and in it's all subscales including fatigue (t= 6.55, p<0.001), relationship with baby (t=2.63, p<0.001), relationship with body (t= 6.43, p<0.001), feeding the baby (t= 2.16, p<0.001), future plan (t= 10.29, p<0.001) and in relationship with partner (t= 10.83, p<0.001).Conclusion: Involvement husband and family members could empower women to overcome stressors and reduce postnatal perceived stress. BackgroundThe postpartum period or puerperium is a transitional time and is a potentially stressful period because a woman needs to face both the new tasks of her maternal role and changes in her body [1]. The puerperium is a crucial time of transition in the lives of new mothers, coincidences by several physiological, emotional and psychosocial changes that begin soon after birth and can continue till the end of the first year of life of the child [2].Postpartum anxiety and stress is widespread, with prevalence ranging from 2% to 45% in the first year postpartum [3,4]. Along with postpartum stressors such as sleep deprivation, hormonal diversity, and the requirement of caring of a neonate, first-time mothers have to adjust to their new parenting role [5, 6]. First-time mothers may feel uncertain about their capabilities to care of newborn [7]. They often feel devastated, extremely tired, and abandoned in their new roles [8, 9]. Studies have