The Effect of Supportive Couple-Centered Counselling on Perception of Support for Spouse and Maternal Attachment in Parturients Referring to Health Centers of Urmia University of Medical Sciences in 2018-19

The postpartum period is a critical period for maternal and infant attachment formation and a stressful period for the mother due to physical and mental changes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of couple-centered counseling on perceived spouse support and mother-infant attachment in parturient women referring to Urmia health centers in the years 2018-2019.

The randomized clinical trial study was conducted in 2018-2019 in Urmia city, Iran. A group of 108 nulliparous women randomly allocated in intervention (54) and control (54) groups. The intervention group received 6 sessions of intervention based on spouse intervention and the control group received routine care. Data collection tools were personal information form, Spousal Support Perceived Questionnaire, and Maternal Baglanma Olcegi Questionnaire. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, independent t-test and paired t-test were used.

Our results showed that the two groups were statistically similar in demographic features. According to the results, mean scores of perception of spouse support and attachment of mother and infant after counseling in intervention group were statistically significant compared with control group (P<0.05). In the intervention group, there was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores of spouse support and maternal attachment with infant before and after the intervention (P<0.05).

Couple-centered counseling enhances understanding of spouse support and mother-infant attachment; Despite the routine training methods, due to the very good effect and also the creation of a very good relationship between the couple, it is recommended as a safe and efficient method.