Relationship between maternal self-efficacy and functional status four months after delivery in Iranian primiparous women.

INTRODUCTION

Postpartum women experience changes in their physiological and psychological functions as they adapt to their parenting role. The objective of this study was to examine the association between maternal self-efficacy and functional status in postpartum period.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 305 Iranian women were selected randomly via a two-stage cluster sampling method at the end of the fourth month postpartum in 25 healthcare centers of Tabriz-Iran, 2016. Data were collected using the socio-demographic characteristics questionnaire, self-efficacy scale and inventory of functional status after childbirth. The statistical tests including Pearson correlation, Independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA and General linear model were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

A significant positive relationship was observed between functional status and self-efficacy (p < 0.001, r = 0.359). According to the adjusted general linear model, self-efficacy, mother's age, income status and planned pregnancy have statistically significant relationships with functional status and explain 33.5% of the variance in the functional status score.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study showed that increased postpartum maternal self-efficacy is associated with improved functional status, which requires health providers to evaluate postpartum maternal self-efficacy and make the necessary interventions if it is low.