The Impacts of Online Prenatal Education Classes on the Mental Health Indicators of Pregnant Women

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 MSc, Department of Nursing, School of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen, Iran

2 Instructor, Master of Midwifery, Department. of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Qaen School of Medical Sciences, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran

4 PhD Student of Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

5 BS in nursing, Department of Nursing, School of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen, Iran

6 Assistant Professor, PhD in Health Information Management, Department of Health Information Management, School of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen, Iran

7 BS in Midwifery, Deputy health, School of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen Faculty of Medical Sciences, Esfarayen, Iran

8 PhD Student, Psychosocial Health and Wellbeing research (emPoweR) Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Australia

10.48305/jims.v42.i764.0308

Abstract

Background: This study aims to investigate the impacts of online prenatal education classes on the Mental health indicators of pregnant women.
Methods: This is a randomized quasi-experimental intervention study (one-group pretest-post test). Among the pregnant women referring to the health centers of Esfarayen City, 28 women at 16 to 20 weeks gestation with a low-risk pregnancy were selected by multistage cluster sampling. Six sessions of Skyroom software-based online prenatal classes were conducted for these women in the second trimester. The Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21), a self-report scale, was used to measure anxiety, stress, and depression. Participants complete the questionnaire before the intervention and one month after the last session.
Findings: The results showed that the average scores of depression (P < 0.01) and stress (P = 0.02) in pregnant women significantly decreased one month after the Online prenatal education classes. However, no significant change was observed in the average score of anxiety (P > 0.05). There was no significant relationship between demographic and mental health indicators before and after the intervention (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Online prenatal education classes were successful in lowering pregnant women's levels of stress and depression.  Although more study needs to concentrate on pregnant women’s mental health by providing a more diverse population, the results from this study clearly show the importance of online support for pregnant women.

Highlights

Ashraf Saber: Google Scholar

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Mehrabadi M, Masoudifar M, Parvizi A, Rakhshani MH, Mortazavi F. Effects of childbirth preparation classes program based on national guideline on fear of childbirth in pregnant women: a randomized clinical trial [in Persian]. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2020; 23(1): 58-68.
  2. Jafari E, Mohebi P, Sedaghatpisheh T, Mazloomzadeh S. Comparison of personal control and its related factors, pain and labor outcomes in physiological and routine childbirth groups [in Persian]. J Rafsanjan Univ Med Sci 2016; 14(12): 1033-48.
  3. Mirzaie F, Rezaie Keikhaie K, Badakhsh M, Khajehpour B, Ghofrani S. Evaluation of coronavirus anxiety in pregnant women on apgar score and birth weight after one year of coronavirus outbreak (case study: Zabol, Iran). J Obstet Gynecol Cancer Res 2021; 7(2): 89-98.
  4. Alipour M, Ghahremani L, Amooee S, Keshavarzi S. The effectiveness of relaxation techniques on depression, anxiety and stress in pregnant women: based on self-efficacy theory [in Persian]. Sci J Kurdistan Univ Med Sci 2017; 22(3): 20-30.
  5. Tajvar M, Asgari Faryadras N, Atashbahar O, Ashoorkhani M, Yaseri M. Investigating the effect of virtual childbirth preparation education on the health practices of pregnant women: a quasiexperimental study. Iran J Health Educ Health Promot 2023; 11(3): 302-18.
  6. Abedian S, Khaledia Z. Assessment of pregnant women satisfaction of pregnancy preparation classes and its relationship with anxiety level in this women that referring to Semnan Clinics [in Persian]. Nurs Midwifery J 2018; 16(2): 73-80.
  7. Sharifpour L, Askarizadeh G. Comparing the effect of painting therapy with childbirth preparation classes on sleep quality of pregnant women. Community Health Journal 2023; 16(4): 70-82.
  8. Doaltabadi Z, Amiri-Farahani L, Hasanpoor-Azghady SB. Implementation of virtual and face-to-face childbirth preparation training for the spouses of the primiparous women to reduce the fear of childbirth, improve the pregnancy experience, and enhance mother-and father-infant attachment: protocol for a quasiexperimental clinical trial. Obstet Gynecol Int 2021; 2021: 1-7.
  9. Romano AM. A changing landscape: implications of pregnant women’s internet use for childbirth educators. J Perinat Educ 2007; 16(4): 18-24.
  10. Derya YA, Altiparmak S, Emine A, GÖkbulut N, Yilmaz AN. Pregnancy and birth planning during COVID-19: The effects of tele-education offered to pregnant women on prenatal distress and pregnancy-related anxiety. Midwifery 2021; 92: 102877.
  11. Fleming SE, Vandermause R, Shaw M. First-time mothers preparing for birthing in an electronic world: internet and mobile phone technology. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology 2014; 32(3): 240-53.
  12. Moshki M, Esmailzadeh-Asali F, Rahmani-Bilandi R, Esmaily H, Dehnoalian A, Jafari A. The effect of prenatal education in two ways, face-to-face and virtual, on the fear of natural childbirth in pregnant women. Z Gesundh Wiss 2023: 1-9.
  13. Adler CL, Zarchin YR. The “virtual focus group”: Using the Internet to reach pregnant women on home bed rest. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 2002; 31(4): 418-27.
  14. Mousavi SR, Amiri-Farahani L, Hasanpoor-Azghady SB, Saravi SO. Comparing the effect of in-person and virtual childbirth preparation trainings on the fear of childbirth (FOC) and pregnancy experience of pregnant women: protocol for a quasi-experimental feasibility study. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2021; 7(1): 1-9.
  15. Zarrabi Jourshari F, Zargham Hajebi M, Saravani S, Eghbali Z. The effect of antenatal physiological classes on depression, anxiety and social support in the last month of pregnancy [in Persian]. Journal of Health and Care 2020; 22(1): 65-74.
  16. Lovibond PF, Lovibond SH. The structure of negative emotional states: Comparison of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) with the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories. Behav Res Ther 1995; 33(3): 335-43.
  17. Samani S, Joukar B. A study on the reliability and validity of the short form of the depression anxiety stress scale (DASS-21) [in Persian]. Special Issue in Education 2007; 26(3): 65-77.
  18. Boryri T, Navidian A, Zehi FH. Assessing the effect of self-care education on anxiety and depression among pregnant women with a history of spontaneous abortion. J Educ Health Promot 2020; 9: 347.
  19. Ciochoń A, Apanasewicz A, Danel DP, Galbarczyk A, Klimek M, Ziomkiewicz A, et al. Antenatal classes in the context of prenatal anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19(9): 5073.
  20. Rezaeean SM, Abedian Z, Latifnejad Roudsari R, Mazloom SR, Dadgar S. Application of Orem's theory for promotion of self-care behaviors of pregnant women at risk for preterm delivery: A clinical trial [in Persian]. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2017; 20(2): 68-77.
  21. Rezaeian SM, Abedian Z, Latifnejad Roudsari R, Mazloom SR, Dadgar S. The relationship of prenatal self-care behaviors with stress, anxiety and depression in women at risk of preterm delivery [in Persian]. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2017; 20(3): 68-76.
  22. Ickovics JR, Reed E, Magriples U, Westdahl C, Schindler Rising S, Kershaw TS. Effects of group prenatal care on psychosocial risk in pregnancy: results from a randomised controlled trial. Psychol Health 2011; 26(2): 235-50.
  23. Firouzbakht M, Nikpour M, Khefri S, Jamali B, Kazeminavaee F, Didehdar M. The effectiveness of prenatal intervention on pain and anxiety during the process of childbirth‑Northern Iran: clinical trial study. Ann Med Health Sci Res 2015; 5(5): 348-52.
  24. Tsai YJ, Hsu YY, Hou TW, Chang CH. Effects of a web‐based antenatal care system on maternal stress and self‐efficacy during pregnancy: A study in Taiwan. J Midwifery Womens Health 2018; 63(2): 205-13.
  25. Khaledian Z, Abedian S, Ehsani R. Role pregnancy classes effects on the level of anxiety and the choice of delivery in pregnant women to semnan clinics [in Persian]. Journal of Multidisciplinary Care 2018; 7(3): 194-201.
  26. Shahyad S, Mohammadi MT. Psychological impacts of COVID-19 outbreak on mental health status of society individuals: a narrative review [in Persian]. J Mil Med 2020; 22(2): 184-92.
  27. López-Morales H, Del Valle MV, Canet-Juric L, Andrés ML, Galli JI, Poó F, et al. Mental health of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study. Psychiatry Res 2021; 295: 113567.
  28. Ahmad M, Vismara L. The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on women’s mental health during pregnancy: A rapid evidence review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18(13): 7112.
  29. Bao Y, Sun Y, Meng S, Shi J, Lu L. 2019-nCoV epidemic: address mental health care to empower society. Lancet 2020; 395(10224): e37-e38.
  30. Dehghan Niri A, Aghaie A, Ziachi M. Cyberspace and empowerment of pregnant women as a muted group [in Persian]. Woman in Development & Politics 2016; 14(1): 33-50.
  31. Masoudi F, Mehri A, Esmaily H, Hashemian M. Comparison of the effectiveness of text-based on education, telegram and in-person training on reducing common complications in pregnancy [in Persian]. J Sabzevar Univ Med Sci 2019; 26(3): 365-72.
  32. Güden E. Effect of online childbirth preparation training on childbirth fear and childbirth. Journal of Social, Humanities and Administrative Sciences 2022; 7(44): 1467-74.
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 42, Issue 764
4th Week,, June
May and June 2024
Pages 308-316

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 31 December 2023
  • Accept Date: 22 July 2024

Share

How to cite

Statistics