Effects of a Reinforcement Program for Postpartum Care Behavioral Skills of Couples with Their First Baby

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE@#This study aimed to investigate the effects of a reinforcement program for behavioral skills in postpartum care for couples with their first baby.@*METHODS@#The study used a non-equivalent control group and pretest-posttest design. It was conducted from January 14 to April 10, 2016 at a postpartum care center in D city. It analyzed 43 couples (22 in the experimental group and 21 in the control group.) For data analysis, descriptive statistics, test of homogeneity in pretest, independent t-tests, and repeated measures ANOVA were used.@*RESULTS@#For maternal fulfillment of postpartum care and postpartum fatigue, there was no significant difference in the interaction between group and time. In terms of parent-newborns attachment, the interaction between group and time showed a significant difference for mothers (F=13.63, p=.001) and fathers (F=6.51, p=.001). In marital intimacy, the interaction between group and time showed a significant difference for mothers (F=14.40, p<.001) and fathers (F=9.46, p=.004). In parenting stress, the interaction between group and time showed a significant difference for mothers (F=31.8, p<.001) and fathers (F=11.69, p=.001). A significant difference was found for the mothers' postpartum sleeping hours (F=0.14 p=.004).@*CONCLUSION@#This program for behavioral skills in postpartum care, which is based on the information-motivation-behavioral skills model, improves postpartum care, parent-newborn attachment, marital intimacy, parenting stress, and maternal postpartum sleeping, by reinforcing behavioral skills required for postpartum care.