Effect of Participatory Care Model on Postpartum Quality of Life and Performance During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Postpartum services are the most important factor in preventing unwanted maternal and neonatal outcomes. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and the stress associated with the risk of infection, one way to improve midwifery services in the postpartum period and reduce unwanted maternal and neonatal outcomes is the participatory care model. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effect of the participatory care model on quality of life and performance in the postpartum period.

This quasi-experimental study was performed on 200 women in the third trimester of pregnancy living in Bojnourd, Iran in 2020. Health-promoting interventions, including self-care training based on the participatory care model, were performed in four sessions for mothers, spouses, and their supporters. Quality of life and postpartum performance questionnaires were completed two and eight weeks after delivery.

Mean quality of life in two weeks after delivery in the intervention and standard care groups were 115.5 and 114.7, respectively, and in the eight weeks after delivery were 121.0 and 116.8, respectively. Mean postpartum performance life in two weeks after delivery in the intervention and standard care groups were 74.7 and 73.6, respectively, and in the eight weeks after were 81.7 and 75.8, respectively. The results of repeated-measure analysis of variance showed that the intervention group had higher quality of life and performance scores than the standard care group (p < 0.001).

The participatory care model can effectively improve the quality of life and performance of mothers, and we recommend its use.