Effectiveness of Midwifery Counseling Using Cognitive Behavioral Approach in Maternal-Fetal Attachment among Pregnant Women with Unplanned Pregnancies

 Unwanted pregnancy reduces maternal role and decreases maternal-fetal attachment. Maternal -fetal attachment is the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that pregnant women express about their fetuses. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of midwifery counseling with cognitive-behavioral approach on maternal-fetal attachment in women with unwanted pregnancy.

This randomizes clinical trial was performed on 96 pregnant women with unwanted pregnancy referred to health centers of Kazerun, Shiraz, Iran, in 2019. The experimental group received 4 training sessions based on the cognitive behavioral counseling during 4 weeks. The control group received only the routine care program. At baseline and immediately after the intervention, both groups completed the demographic and maternal-fetal attachment questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (independent t-test and Chi-square test) using SPSS 21.

The study showed no significant difference in total score of attachment (P=0.886) before intervention between the two groups; while after the intervention a significant difference was observed in the score of attachment (P=0.001) between the two groups; that is showed effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy on promotes on maternal-fetal attachment

Considering the effect of cognitive-behavioral training in promoting of maternal- fetal attachment, it is recommended that this type of educational intervention be integrated into the womenchr('39')s care program with unwanted pregnancies.