| ABSTRACT
Objective:The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a training package on functional
status and self-confidence of primiparous women in the postpartum period.
Method:This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 136 primiparous women
who were referred to health centers in Tabriz, Iran, for their second postpartum care (10–15
days after delivery). These women were randomly assigned to education (n¼68) and control
(n¼68) groups. The education group was provided with a face-to-face training session, three
phone sessions, and a booklet. The control group received the routine postpartum care on days
1–3, 10–15 and 42–60. Participants completed the functional status and maternal self-confidence
questionnaires before the interventio n and eight weeks postpartum. Independent t, chi-square
and Fisher’s exact tests were used for data analysis.
Results:No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of
sociodemographic characteristics, except for infant’s gender (p>.05). At six weeks after the intervention and by adjusting for baseline scores and infant’s sex, mean scores of functional status
(adjusted mean difference: 0.9; 95% CI: 0.8–1.03,p<.001) and maternal self-confidence (adjusted
mean difference: 16.6; 95% CI: 13.8–19.3,p<.001) were significantly higher in the education
group than in the control group.
Conclusion:This study showed that training women has a positive effect in increasing their selfconfidence and improving their functional status. |