The Effects of Self-Management Program on Postpartum Stress and Flatulence in Primiparous Mothers after Cesarean Section

Abstract

            The purposes of this research were to study the effects of a self-management program on postpartum stress and flatulence in primiparous mothers after cesarean section. The instruments used in the experiment consisted of the self-management program, and four sets of data collection tools as follows: (1) Personal information record form; (2) Self-management behavior assessment form; (3) Stress assessment form; and (4) Flatulence assessment form. The self-management behavior assessment and the flatulence assessment form were reviewed for content validity by 3 experts with Content Validity Index (CVI) of 1. The reliability of self-management behavior assessment form, the stress assessment form and the flatulence assessment form were tested with a sample of 10 people using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient yielding values of 0.77, 0.86 and 0.74, respectively. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and independent t-test.
            The results of the study were as follows: primiparous mothers after cesarean section in the experimental group who received self-management program had significantly better behavior than the control group who received care according to hospital standards (t = -3.15, p < .01). The stress and flatulence in the experimental group were significantly lower than the control group (t = 2.31, p < .05) and (t = 3.23, p < .01), respectively. In addition, when comparing the stress level of primiparous mothers after cesarean section before and after receiving the self-management program, it was found that after the experiment, their stress significantly decreased, (t = 4.82, p < .01).