The Effect of Maternal–Foetal Attachment–Based Training Programme on Maternal Mental Health Following an Unintended Pregnancy

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Unintended pregnancy is a risk factor for less maternal–fetal attachment (MFA) and low levels of psychological well-being. This study was conducted to determine the effect of an MFA-based training programme on maternal anxiety, depression and worries following an unintended pregnancy.

Methods

This randomised clinical trial was conducted on 68 women with an unintended pregnancy in north of  Iran during 2018–2019. Participants were allocated to the trained and control groups through simple randomisation. The trained group received the MFA-based training for three 90-min sessions. Demographic questionnaire, London measure of unplanned pregnancy, Cranley’s MFA scale, Edinburgh postnatal depression, Spielberger anxiety and prenatal distress questionnaires were used. Data were analysed by descriptive statistics, chi square, Fisher’s exact test, independent and paired-samples t-tests, Mann–Whitney U, analysis of covariance, and multivariate analysis of variance.

Results

After the intervention, the mean MFA, anxiety and depression scores were not significantly different between the trained and control groups Worry was significantly decreased in the trained group (p = 0.001) and increased in the control group (p = 0.03).

Discussion

Although the MFA-based training could not significantly improve MFA, maternal anxiety and depression, it has been effective on worry in women with the unintended pregnancies.

KEYWORDS:

• Anxiety
• depression
• maternal–fetal attachment
• training
• unintended pregnancy
• worry

Acknowledgements

This paper is a part of the student’s dissertation with the number of 1839 done with the financial support provided by Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. The authors would like to thank the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Technology of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, staffs of the health centers, and the pregnant women who participated in this project for their cooperation. They also sincerely thank Miss Firoozeh Rosta for her contribution in teaching relaxation to the mothers.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).