IntroductionThe postpartum period is one of the important transitional phases in women's life (1). Following serious changes of delivery and transition to parenthood, primigravidas undergo significant physical, social and psychological changes (2). With important physiological and psychological changes such as adapting to changes in the body, woman face maternal role and support of certain people (3). Therefore, mother needs to adapt to new life and newborn care (4). Most of them aren't ready to take care of themselves and their baby with plentiful needs (5). During this stage of adjustment, mother experiences psychosocial social imbalances that lead to severe stress (6). The true prevalence of postpartum stress among women is unknown, but studies show that 10% to 15% of women are affected by mental issues including depression, anxiety and stress after delivery (7). Webb et al showed that 69% of women have at least one physical complaint after childbirth (8). Based on the results, 25.71% to 32.38% of women have mild mental disorders during the first 6 weeks after delivery (9) and, in some studies; this figure has even reached up to 44.4% (10). In Iran, 47.5% of nulliparous women and 67.1% of multiparous are not in a good mental health status (11) and 32% of women experience postpartum stress disorder after delivery (12). Overall, postpartum stress in Iranian women is higher than other countries and is inversely related to social protection (13). Many diseases and problems of women in this period are related to stress or their inability to cope with changes (14). Stress can be a component of any disease. Therefore, understanding the stressors and improving the capacity of the person to be compatible with them is very important (3).Episiotomy and perineal pain, back pain, breast swelling and pain, incontinence, constipation, fatigue, sleep problems and breast problems are the most important physical stressors and the pressure to return to pre-pregnancy weight, sexual changes, concerns about the maternal role, problems regarding the infant (e.g., feeding, crying, care, bathing, unpredictable behaviors of the baby, sucking, neonatal jaundice, sleep disorders, flatulence, inadequate weight gain, eye infection and umbilical infection), relationships with partners and lack of social support are psychological stressors (15-17). Baby care, sexual relationships, self-care, family planning and mental health are women's concerns and educational needs in the postpartum period (18). Based on the analysis of various factors, Hung et al found that three factors of maternal role attainment, lack of social support and physical changes are important in the occurrence of postpartum stress (5).Postpartum stresses are determinants of women's health and even threaten child-parent relationship and child
AbstractObjectives: 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 primigravi...