Effect of a Psychoeducation Intervention on Postpartum Health

Mental disorders during pregnancy and postpartum period can affect the quality of life of mother, baby and the whole family. Psychoeducation can be offered to those at risk to prevent or reduce the incidence of these disorders, but the most appropriate time for such intervention is not determined yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a psychoeducation intervention 48 hours before delivery on postpartum general health and to identify the potential role of family in reducing the incidence and severity of these disorders.

This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 80 pregnant mothers admitted to maternity ward of Shahid Sayyad Shirazi Hospital in Gorgan, Iran. Subjects were randomly divided into an intervention (n=40) and a control (n=40) group. Subjects in the intervention group and their spouses received education on postpartum mental health 48 hours before the estimated delivery date. The control group received no education. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the general health questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) at baseline and at 2nd and 4th week postpartum. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 18) at significance level of 0.05.

The mean age was 26.3±5.6 years in the intervention group and 27.9 ± 5.1 years in the control group. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of age, pregnancy order, number of abortions, type of delivery and history of addiction at baseline. The total GHQ-28 score significantly decreased from baseline to the fourth week postpartum in both groups (P=0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of total GHQ-28 score reduction (P>0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of change in GHQ-28 subscale scores over time.

The findings of this study indicate that short-term educational intervention, 24-48 hours before delivery, is not effective in improving mental health in the postpartum period. Therefore, educational interventions should be conducted either weeks before or after delivery.