Effects of an interpersonal-psychotherapy-oriented childbirth education programme for Chinese first-time childbearing women at 3-month follow up: randomised controlled trial

Background: Developing a sense of well-being and achieving maternal role competence are considered critical components of maternal adaptation. Given the growing evidence of postpartum depression and its devastating effects, effective childbirth psychoeducation programme to promote maternal role competence, psychological well-being and prevent postpartum depression is essential and of an urgent priority.

Objective: To examine the effects of an interpersonal psychotherapy oriented childbirth education programme on social support, maternal role competence, postpartum depression and psychological well-being in Chinese first-time childbearing women at three-month postpartum.

Design, setting and participants: Randomised controlled trial in a regional teaching hospital, Guangzhou, China with 194 first-time pregnant women, of whom 96 received interpersonal-psychotherapy-oriented childbirth education programme and 98 standard care. The intervention was developed from principles of interpersonal psychotherapy which consisted of two 90-min antenatal classes and a telephone follow-up within two weeks after delivery. Outcomes measurements included Perceived Social Support Scale, Parenting Sense of Competence Scale-Efficacy subscale, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and General Health Questionnaire, were compared over three-month follow up.

Results: The study group had significantly better improvement on perceived social support (p<0.01), maternal role competence (p<0.01), postpartum depressive symptoms (p<0.01) and psychological well-being (p<0.01) when compared with the control group. The study group also had significantly higher level of social support (t=2.33, p=0.021), maternal role competence (t=2.43, p=0.016) and less depressive symptoms (t=-2.39, p=0.018) at three-month postpartum when compared with the control group.

Discussion: The childbirth psychoeducation programme can substantially benefit first time Chinese mothers. It could be implemented as a routine care with ongoing evaluation. Future studies could focus on women in lower social classes, with multiple pregnancy and complicated pregnancy.