Development of psychoeducational empowerment intervention program to promote maternal mental health

Abstract

Transition to Motherhood is a significant phase of change in role, identity, responsibility, and physiology for every woman. During the transition to motherhood, many women are vulnerable to developing mental health problems that could have a debilitating impact on them, their infants, and their families. Though there is an increase in the prevalence of perinatal mental illness and stigma around maternal mental health in India, there is a paucity of research to address the mental health and well-being of mothers. The need of the hour is to educate and empower mothers and promote help-seeking behaviour among mothers in the antenatal and postnatal phases. Regular screening and monitoring of the psychological well-being of mothers in the antenatal phase can help healthcare providers prevent psychological distress in the postnatal phase. Based on analysing the compelling need, a culturally sensitive, structured, cost-effective, and flexible empowerment program has been developed to promote maternal mental health and prevent the onset of psychological distress among perinatal mothers. The intervention program was structured based on Perinatal Education, Psychoeducation, Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) principles, stress management, mindfulness and gratitude principles, functional skills, and strengthening social support. The study has adopted a transformative, culturally appropriate, and Matri-centric approach to de-stigmatize and ensure equitable mental health promotion for perinatal mothers. Four hundred and thirty-two pregnant mothers were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The key parameters, such as psychological distress, maternal foetal attachment, mother-infant attachment, maternal functioning, and psychological well-being, were assessed at different time points across the prenatal and postnatal period. The first phase of the intervention, comprising twelve core sessions, was delivered during the antenatal period. During the postnatal period, the second phase of the Intervention, comprising guided peer group support sessions and supportive phone calls was provided to postnatal mothers. The Psychoeducational Empowerment Intervention Program has proven to be effective in promoting maternal mental health and preventing psychological distress across the perinatal phase. newline