Comparing the effect of haptonomy and CBT-based counseling on childbirth experience and postpartum depression of women with high fear of childbirth: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND:Fear of childbirth (FOC) leads to the perception of more pain and a negative childbirth experience. Negative childbirth experience is related to postpartum depression. This study aimed to compare the effect of haptonomy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on the childbirth experience and postpartum depression of women with high FOC.MATERIALS AND METHODS:This randomized controlled trial was performed on 99 primigravida women referred to health centers in Tabriz, Iran, from January to August 2022. Participants with Wijma score above 65 were assigned into three groups using block randomization. One of the intervention groups (n = 33) received eight sessions of CBT from gestational age of 24–28 weeks and the other group (n = 33) received haptonomy during five sessions once a week. The control group (n = 33) received routine care. The data were collected using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, and childbirth experiences questionnaire version 2.0 and were analyzed using ANOVA and ANCOVA.RESULTS:The mean score of childbirth experience in the CBT and haptonomy groups was 70.67 (13.70) and 70.63 (14.48), respectively, which was more than that in the control group 61.63 (14.11) (P = 0.01). However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the intervention groups (P = 1.000). There wasn’t significant difference in the mean score of postpartum depression among CBT 7.59 (3.03), haptonomy 7.47 (4.49), and control 9.71 (3.05) groups (P = 0.09).CONCLUSIONS:Both CBT and haptonomy improved the childbirth experience, but did not affect postpartum depression. Considering the lack of significant difference between the CBT and haptonomy intervention groups in terms of childbirth experience and given that haptonomy intervention is employed by midwives with no need for CBT counseling skills and can be presented in fewer sessions than CBT, it can be used as a preferred intervention approach by midwives in the care of pregnant women with FOC to improve the childbirth experience.