Aromatherapy in Postpartum Depression: A Clinical Trial Based on PRECEDE Model

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common psychological and behavioral disorder. This clinical trial examined the effect of PRECEDE-based education on encouraging women to use aromatherapy in preventing postpartum depressive symptoms.

The study was carried out in pregnant women attending Karaj Shahid Kamali Hospital, Iran 2018. In intervention group (n=154), the PRECEDE-based educational intervention was conducted and in the control group, the routine training program was implemented. Demographic characteristics questionnaire and a researcher-made scale based on PRECEED model were used to collect the data. The participants completed the questionnaires before the study and two weeks after the intervention. Data analysis was performed in SPSS V19.

Despite the homogeneity of the two groups before the intervention, there were significant differences between the two groups in Knowledge, self-efficacy, and social support after the intervention (P<0.05). But, attitude was not found to be significantly different between the two groups after the intervention (P=0.053). The frequency of using aromatherapy in experimental group was 18.18% that increased to 100% after the intervention (P<0.001) and in the control group it was 19.48% which increased to 22.72% ((P=0.772). The mean score for postpartum depression decreased from 14.25 to 10.34.

The PRECEDE model is an appropriate model in teaching aromatherapy in women at high-risk of PPD.