Evaluation of program to improve mental and physical health
2013 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 83-93
Details
2013 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 83-93
Purpose
This study evaluated women's mental and physical health during the postpartum period and after they had participated in a program designed to improve women's health.
Methods
The subjects were 135 mothers two-six months after delivery who participated in a post-partum program. The two-hour weekly program, included: aerobic exercise, communication skills, and self-care, and lasted four consecutive weeks. The measurement tools included the Edinb-urg Postnatal Depression scale (EPDS), subjective well-being scale, andauthor created question such as participants' motives, degree of satis-faction, and poor physical condition. The survey was conducted three times: 1st and 4th week of the program, and one month after programcompletion. Repeated ANOVA was performed for the three survey poin-ts.
Results
There were 112 (83.0%) women continuing to program completion, followed 90 (80.4%) women one month after program completion. Participation motives were high for physical needs, and low for needs related to mental or social aspects. Needs related to mental and social aspects were satisfied by participation in the program. There was statistical significance (p<.001) for changes in total points for poor physical condition, improvement at the 4th session, and the effect continued until one month after program completion.
A significant difference (p=.002) was found for changes in total points for subjective well-being, with the score increasing at each survey. Change in the EPDS score indicating the degree of depression was significant (p<.001), with the degree of depression reduced at the 4th session, and that condition continued at the one month completion. The proportion of EPDS scores of 9 points (indicating depression) or higher was 23 mothers (20.5%) at the first session of the program, compared to 11 mothers (9.8%) at the 4th session of the program, indicating a significant decrease (p<.025).
Conclusions
Participants who completed in the program improved poor physical condition, increased subjective well-being, and reduced the degree of depression, and these changes continued at one month after program completion. It is possible the postpartum program contributed to improve in the mother' physical and mental health, and postpartum depression. The next step is repeat the program using a control group.
