The effect of nursing care based on Meleis' Transition Theory on the women's adjustment to motherhood and perception of their newborns.

objectiveThis study aims to determine the effect of nursing care based on Meleis' transition theory on the women's adjustment to motherhood and perception of their newborns.

methodsThis was a randomized, experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group design, which included a total of 79 pregnant women who were followed and observed in seven family health centers chosen with the simple randomization method, between October 2019-August 2022, in a city centre in Turkey and 26 of these pregnant women were assigned to the experiment and 53 of them were assigned to the control group. The pregnant women in the experiment group received transition to motherhood education which lasted for seven sessions and pregnancy, post-partum period and newborn checks and follow ups were done. Pregnant women in the control group continued to receive regular checks in family health centers. The study data was collected using the Descriptive Information Form, Prenatal Self-Evaluation Scale, Post-Partum Self-Evaluation Scale and Neonatal Perception Inventory. Data were evaluated using descriptive statistical analyses, Student t-test, Paired Samples test, Pearson Chi-square test were used for normal distributions, Mann Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests were used for non-normal distribution.

resultsIn the study, it was found that with nursing care based on Meleis's transition theory (education program, physical examination, follow-up and interventions), the level of maternal readiness for childbirth increased and adjustment to postpartum period improved (improved relations with partners, involvement in child care, social support and adjustment to motherhood and improved satisfaction in motherhood) in the women in the experiment group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the women in the experiment group had less negative perceptions of their babies (p < 0.05).

conclusionIt was concluded that nursing care based on Meleis' transition theory increased women's adjustment to prenatal and postpartum periods. The study recommends integration of education programs and other initiatives done in the study to improve adjustment to pregnancy, adjustment to postpartum period and positive perception of the newborn which is important for mother-child healthcare services into routine antenatal care.