THE EFFECT OF COUPLE COUNSELLING BASED ON MARITAL SUPPORT ON THE LEVEL OF PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT IN NULIPAROUS WOMEN: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Kargari, Behrooz; Sabourinia, Akram; Khalkhali, Hamidreza; Mohaddesi, Hamideh

doi:10.61186/unmf.22.8.667

Volume 22, Issue 8 (11-2024) Nursing and Midwifery Journal 2024, 22(8): 667-677 | Back to browse issues page

‎ 10.61186/unmf.22.8.667

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Kargari B, Sabourinia A, Khalkhali H, Mohaddesi H. THE EFFECT OF COUPLE COUNSELLING BASED ON MARITAL SUPPORT ON THE LEVEL OF PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT IN NULIPAROUS WOMEN: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL. Nursing and Midwifery Journal 2024; 22 (8) :667-677
URL: http://unmf.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-4494-en.html

THE EFFECT OF COUPLE COUNSELLING BASED ON MARITAL SUPPORT ON THE LEVEL OF PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT IN NULIPAROUS WOMEN: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL

Behrooz Kargari¹

, Akram Sabourinia ^*²

, Hamidreza Khalkhali³

, Hamideh Mohaddesi⁴

1- Master of Psychology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
2- University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran , sabouei.akram@gmail.com
3- Professor, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Patient Safety Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
4- Department of Midwifery, Maternal and Childhood Obesity Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran

Abstract: (568 Views)

Background & Aims: Childbirth is a significant event in a woman's life, bringing about numerous emotional, physical, and social changes. It requires social support, which is crucial for the health of both the mother and the fetus. Given the importance of husbands' roles during pregnancy, the positive effects of male participation in pregnancy, and its impact on the future health of society, this study aimed to determine the effect of couple counseling on perceived social support among primiparous women.
Materials & Methods: This clinical trial was conducted among 60 pregnant women meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria, selected from six comprehensive health service centers in Salmas. Participants were randomly divided into two groups (control and intervention) based on three socio-economic levels (affluent, less affluent, suburban). After sample selection, study objectives were explained, written consent was obtained, and demographic and family support scale questionnaires were completed. The control group received routine care, while the intervention group received three weekly online couple counseling sessions lasting 60–75 minutes in addition to routine care. Post-intervention questionnaires were completed by both groups, and the data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26 with Kolmogorov-Smirnov, independent t-test, paired t-test, and Chi-square tests at a significance level of <0.05.
Results: Results showed that before the counseling sessions, the intervention and control groups were similar in demographic characteristics, except for religion (p = 0.005), with no significant differences observed. Before the intervention, the mean social support scores on the family support scale were 15.70 ± 1.54 for the intervention group and 15.43 ± 2.04 for the control group, with no significant difference (p = 0.57). However, after the intervention, the mean social support score in the intervention group increased to 17.19 ± 1.52, compared to 14.85 ± 2.04 in the control group, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001).
Discussion: Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that policymakers in maternal care continuously emphasize increasing male participation in pregnancy and childbirth care. Programs should be designed to raise men's awareness and understanding of risk factors affecting pregnancy and childbirth and their role in preventing these factors.

Keywords: Couple Counseling, Social Support, Pregnancy, Primiparous Women

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Type of Study: Research | Subject: مامایی

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