Effectiveness of Nursing Interventions in Promoting Maternal Mental Health During the Postpartum Period

PURPOSE:To assess the efficacy of nursing interventions in enhancing the mental health of mothers during the postpartum period, with a focus on newly emerging symptoms of postpartum depression, anxiety, and stress in women without psychiatric histories. METHOD:This randomized controlled trial included 390 postpartum women who were divided into two groups: an intervention group, which received specialized nursing interventions, and a control group, which received standard postpartum care. Nursing interventions comprised educational support, personalized counseling, and community engagement programs, which were implemented on a weekly to monthly basis during the initial 6 months following childbirth. Primary outcomes assessed were prevalence and severity of postpartum depression, anxiety, and stress, as determined by validated psychological scales at baseline, 3 months, and 15 months postpartum. RESULTS: The intervention group exhibited substantial decreases in depression, anxiety, and stress levels in comparison to the control group at 3 and 15 months. In the intervention group, depression scores decreased from 18% at baseline to 5% at 15 months, whereas in the control group, they decreased from 17.95% to 15.38%. Furthermore, enhancements were observed in lifestyle behaviors pertaining to sleep quality, diet, and exercise. CONCLUSION: Findings emphasize the significance of comprehensive nursing interventions in the early postpartum period for the enhancement of maternal mental health outcomes. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services,