Family and spouse support predict the maternal functioning of women in thepostpartum period

Background: Postpartum maternal functioning is a multidimensional concept defined as howa woman does her daily activities after having an infant.Objective: This study aims to determine the predictors of postpartum maternal functioning.Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on ۵۶۴ womenwithin one to four months after their childbirth (with registered medical records in healthcenters of Tabriz, Iran) in ۲۰۲۰-۲۰۲۱. The participants were selected based on the clustersampling method and the data were collected using a demographic-social and midwiferyquestionnaire and the Barkin Index of Maternal Functioning (BIMF). The modified generallinear model (GLM) was also employed to estimate the effect of each of the independentvariables (demographic-social and midwifery characteristics) on the dependent variable(maternal functioning).Results: The mean overall BIMF score of participants was ۹۳.۱ out of ۱۲۰. Based on themodified GLM, “spouse support” and “family support” were strong predictors of maternalfunctioning, as the participants who were receiving higher levels of “spouse support” and“family support” obtained a significantly higher BIMF score.Conclusions: Since the study findings suggested a significant relationship between spouseand family support and maternal functioning, the souses and family members of women whohave recently given birth to a child are recommended to support such women more than everto improve their maternal functioning

کلیدواژه ها:

Family Support ، Spouse Support ، Maternal Performance ، Postpartum Period.