Effect of counseling on maternal-fetal attachment in women with unplanned pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

<b>Introduction</b>: Since the maternal-fetal attachment level in unplanned pregnancies is weaker than their planned counterparts, this study aimed to determine the effect of counselling on maternal-fetal attachment in women with unplanned pregnancy.<b>Methods</b>: This was a randomised controlled clinical trial on pregnant women with unplanned pregnancy and weak-average maternal-fetal attachment scores. Participants were assigned to a control (n = 40) and an intervention (n = 40) group through randomised blocking. The intervention group attended 1-3 individual and 6 group counselling sessions and the control group received routine care. The participants completed the Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale before and four weeks after the intervention.<b>Results</b>: The mean (standard deviation) maternal-fetal attachment score of the intervention group was increased from 73.6 (8.9) before the intervention to 96.6 (9.3) after the intervention. However, the mean (standard deviation) maternal-fetal attachment scores of the control group were 76.0 (9.4) and 76.5 (6.4) before and after the intervention, respectively. The mean maternal-fetal attachment score of the counselling group was significantly higher than that of the control group (adjusted mean difference: 21.7; 95% confidence interval: 18.6 to 24.9; P < 0.001).<b>Conclusion</b>: Counseling has a positive contribution to improving maternal-fetal attachment in women with unplanned pregnancies.