Implementing Essential Coaching for Every Mother during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pre-post intervention study

Area of Science:

• Maternal Health
• Psychosocial Outcomes
• Digital Health Interventions

Background:

• The postpartum period is critical for maternal well-being, often accompanied by challenges such as anxiety and low self-efficacy.
• The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unique stressors for new mothers, highlighting the need for accessible support systems.
• Digital interventions offer a scalable solution to provide timely support to mothers navigating the transition to parenthood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the preliminary impact of the Essential Coaching for Every Mother program on maternal self-efficacy, social support, postpartum anxiety, and depression.
• To assess the acceptability and feasibility of this digital coaching program for first-time mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Methods:

• A prospective pre-post study design was employed with 88 first-time mothers in Nova Scotia, Canada.
• Participants completed self-report surveys at enrollment (postpartum) and 6 weeks postpartum, utilizing standardized psychosocial measures.
• Qualitative feedback on program acceptability was gathered through thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Maternal self-efficacy significantly increased from baseline to follow-up (P=.000).
• Postpartum anxiety (STAI) significantly decreased from baseline to follow-up (P=.004).
• High program acceptability was reported: 89% found message frequency appropriate, and 98.8% would recommend the program.

Conclusions:

• The Essential Coaching for Every Mother program shows potential in enhancing maternal self-efficacy and reducing postpartum anxiety.
• The program demonstrated high acceptability and satisfaction among new mothers, suggesting its value as a supportive tool.
• Further research with a control group is recommended to confirm the program's efficacy in improving maternal psychosocial outcomes.