Abstract
Purpose We evaluated the effects of home visitation by nurses around one month after delivery, focusing on mother's anxiety and awareness of child rearing problems.
Method We selected mothers who had a normal first child, and assigned them to the intervention (n=131) or control (n=100) groups. For the former, home visits were made by nurses, and for the controls, the usual care was provided. Outcome measurements were conducted before the intervention (Time I) and two months after (Time II). Usual care (neonatal home visiting service) was commonly provided by city health department, but not all subjects received a visit. We excepted the subjects who were provided with this usual care, analyzing the remaining subjects in the two groups.
Results The eligible subjects of the intervention group were 64 mothers (48.9%) and in the control group were 66 mothers (66%). There were no significant difference in terms of Time I demographic characteristics and outcome measures between two groups. However, there were significant differences in outcomes (mother's anxiety and awareness) between the two groups by ANCOVA, the intervention group showed decline of anxiety (P=0.04) and improved enjoyment of child rearing (P=0.02).
Almost all mothers of the intervention group expressed the opinion that home visits by nurses were useful for themselves.
Conclusion We suggest that nurse home visitation around one month after delivery is useful to provide formal support for mother childcare.
