Bhamani SS, Van Parys AS, Arthur D, Letourneau N, Wagnild G, Degomme O. Promoting mental wellbeing in pregnant women living in Pakistan with the Safe Motherhood-Accessible Resilience Training (SM-ART) intervention: a randomized controlled trial.
BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024;
24:452. [PMID:
38951777 PMCID:
PMC11218085 DOI:
10.1186/s12884-024-06629-2]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The negative impact of adverse perinatal mental health extends beyond the mother and child; therefore, it is essential to make an early intervention for the management of mental illness during pregnancy. Resilience-building interventions are demonstrated to reduce depression and anxiety among expectant mothers, yet research in this field is limited. This study aims to examine the effect of the 'Safe Motherhood-Accessible Resilience Training (SM-ART)' on resilience, marital adjustment, depression, and pregnancy-related anxiety in a sample of pregnant women in Karachi, Pakistan.
METHOD
In this single-blinded block randomized controlled study, 200 pregnant women were recruited and randomly assigned to either an intervention or a control group using computer-generated randomization and opaque sealed envelopes. The intervention group received the SM-ART intervention consisting of six, weekly sessions ranging from 60 to 90 min. Outcomes (Resilience, depression, pregnancy-related anxiety and marital harmony) were assessed through validated instruments at baseline and after six weeks of both intervention and control groups.
RESULTS
The results revealed a significant increase in mean resilience scores (Difference:6.91, Effect size: 0.48, p-value < 0.05) and a decrease in depressive symptoms (Difference: -2.12, Effect size: 0.21, p-value < 0.05) in the intervention group compared to the control group. However, no significant change was observed in anxiety and marital adjustment scores.
CONCLUSION
The SM-ART intervention has the potential to boost resilience scores and decrease depressive symptoms in pregnant women and offers a promising intervention to improve maternal psychological health.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
NCT04694261, Date of first trial registration: 05/01/2021.
Collapse