Comparison of the Effect of Teaching an Educational Package to Spouses Using Two Methods of In-Person and Distance Education in Childbirth Preparation Classes on Pregnant Women's Mental Health

Background & aim: Spouses’ participation in childbirth preparation classes seems to be effective in the promotion of pregnant women's mental health. Considering the barriers to spouses' participation in these classes, this study aimed to determine the effect of teaching an educational package to spouses using two methods of in-person and distance education in childbirth preparation classes on pregnant women's mental health. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 102 pregnant women and their husbands in health centers of Mashhad, Iran, in 2019. The subjects were randomly assigned to three groups of in-person education (n=35), distance education (n=33), and control (n=34).In the in-person education group, spouses attended in the third and eighth sessions. In the distance education group, an educational package was delivered to spouses, followed by follow-up calls within three weeks to resolve possible ambiguities. In the control group, the spouses did not receive any training. Pregnant women's mental health was assessed by the General Health Questionnaire-28 before, immediately after, and three weeks after the intervention. Results: The mean scores of mental health in the three groups did not differ before the intervention (P<0.05).In the distance education group, the mean scores of mental health decreased by 16.1 and 20.1 after the intervention and in the follow-up stage, compared to the control group (P<0.001). In the in-person education group, there were no significant changes in the scores in any stages of pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up, compared to the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Distance education of spouses in childbirth preparation classes was more effective in the promotion of pregnant women's mental health, compared to in-person education.