Document Type : Original Research Article
Authors
1
Professor, Pregnancy Health Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
2
MSc of Counseling in Midwifery, Pregnancy Health Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
3
Professor, Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
4
Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
10.22038/jmrh.2025.79206.2367
Abstract
Background & aim: Pregnancy-related anxiety and depression are prevalent and increase the risk of negative maternal outcomes. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the effect of midwife-led counseling according to Gamble’s approach on pregnancy-related anxiety and depression.
Methods: The present quasi-experimental study was carried out from April 4, 2023, to September 21, 2023, in Zahedan, Iran. Fifty-seven Iranian pregnant women at gestational ages of 18-24 weeks with a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) score of ≥8 were allocated to two intervention and control groups using convenience sampling. The intervention group (n=28) received five counseling sessions according to Gamble’s approach, while the control group (n=29) was subjected to the routine prenatal care. The HADS questionnaire was used to collect data before, immediately after, and two months after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the chi-squared test, linear regression model, and repeated measures analysis of variance.
Results: The two groups were not significantly different in terms of anxiety (P=0.9) and depression scores (P=0.2) before the intervention. However, after the intervention, the anxiety and depression scores significantly decreased in the intervention group in comparison with the control group (P<0.0001). According to post-hoc analysis, in the intervention group, two months after the intervention, the levels of anxiety (P<0.007) and depression (P=0.001) were significantly lower compared to the pre-intervention stage.
Conclusion: Midwife-led counseling based on Gamble’s approach may help to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to examine the effectiveness of this intervention in real-world healthcare settings.
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