Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Midwifery, Evidence‑Based Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences,
2 Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Science Research Center, IBN SINA Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Maternal confidence is an extremely important factor in playing the mother’s role
and her identity formation. Loss of self‑confidence occurs in primiparous women due to the lack of
maternal skills. Obtaining the behaviors of maternal role and self‑confidence, the mother provides
better care for her child. Hence, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of maternal role
training program based on Mercer theory on maternal self‑confidence of primiparous women with
unplanned pregnancy.
METHODOLOGY OF THE RESEARCH: This clinical trial was performed on 67 primiparous
women referring to Mashhad health centers. Individuals were randomly divided into intervention
and control groups. A maternal role training program based on Mercer theory was carried out for
intervention group (three sessions of group training in the 34th, 35th, and 36th weeks of pregnancy
and one individual training session before discharge from the hospital and then, weekly follow‑up
over the phone for 4 weeks). The control group received the normal pregnancy care. The research
tools were questionnaires of demographic characteristics, London, DASS 21, Edinburgh Postnatal
Depression Scale, Parenting Sense of Competence, General Impressions on Infant Temperament
Questionnaire, and Six Simple Questions. Maternal self‑confidence was measured before training,
4 weeks after delivery, and 4 months after delivery. Data analysis was carried out using independent
t‑test, Chi‑square test, paired t‑test, Mann–Whitney test, one‑way ANOVA, and Wilcoxon test. P < 0.05
was considered statistically significant.
RESULTS: There was a significant difference between mean maternal self‑confidence
changes (before training and 4 weeks after delivery (P = 0.003) and before training and 4 months
after delivery (P = 0.001) in both groups. After eliminating the effect of interventional variables, the
mean scores of maternal self‑confidence after training in the intervention group had a statistically
significant difference with that in the control group (P = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Maternal role training program based on Mercer theory increases maternal
self‑confidence in primiparous women with unplanned pregnancy. Teaching maternal role is
recommended to all health‑care providers.
Keywords
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