The Effect of Education Courses in Pregnant Women and their Husbands with Previous Adverse Outcomes on the Mothers Quality of Life and Maternal – Fetal Attachment RCT

Abstract

Pregnancy is a major life event for all women and mothers experience physical changes and emotional burden causing stress and anxiety leads to reduced quality of life. While the women with adverse pregnancy outcomes history experience higher stress and anxiety levels. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of education on QOL and MFA of the expectant mothers experienced adverse pregnancy outcomes before. Methods A controlled clinical trial was performed on 132 mothers (24-28 weeks gestation) with adverse pregnancy outcomes history referred to Sarab Healthcare Center. This group of subjects was randomly divided into two intervention (n-66) and control (n=66) groups. Data was gathered before and 4 weeks after intervention. The mothers experienced adverse pregnancy outcomes were given booklets as well as four training session on QOL and two training sessions on maternal- fetal attachment using SF-36 QOL inventory, Ceranly's Maternal-Fetal Attachment Questionnaire, Spielberger's Anxiety Inventory. We assessed the consistency of the demographic characteristics by using chi-square test, trend chi-square, independent-t and Fisher's exact tests. Controlling the base values we used independent T and ANCOVA before and after intervention (respectively). Results Demographic characteristics of both study groups showed no significant statistic difference (P>0.05). By baseline adjustment ANCOVA results of the participants of the intervention group indicated significant statistical improvement in mean QOL scores (Average adjustment difference: 35.8, Confidence interval 95%: 30.3-41.2, P<0.001) and maternal-fetal attachment (Average adjustment difference 45.8, confidence interval 95%: 40.2- 51.3, P<0.001) comparing to the subjects in the control group. During four weeks of intervention and controlling baseline score, the mean anxiety score by suggested significant decrease in intervention group's (mean difference: _19.6, confidence interval 95%: 21.9- 17.3, P<0.001). Conclusion Given the findings of our study training pregnant woman and her spouse will help to improve QOL and MFA and, also, decrease anxiety of the mothers with adverse pregnancy outcomes history.