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Abstract

Importance: The transition to motherhood is difficult for many women due to multidimensional changes including psychological and emotional shifts, evolving social relationships, and bodily fluctuations (Hwang et al., 2022; Marinucci, 2023).

Objective: To synthesize information about interventions within the occupational therapy scope of practice to improve the transition to motherhood.

Data sources: A medical librarian performed searches in PubMed, CINAHL, PsychINFO from 2014-2024.

Design: The inclusion criteria included pregnant women or women with a baby for up to 1 year of age, OT interventions, quantitative studies, and systematic reviews written in English.

Findings: There were 13 articles ranging from scoping and systematic reviews, cohort studies, non-randomized two group studies, and single group pre-post designs. Two IA studies provided strong evidence for psychoeducation in combined individual and group interventions. There is moderate evidence for individual social support interventions and individual technology-based interventions. One II and one III articles provided moderate evidence for social support interventions. One I and three II articles provided moderate evidence for technology-based interventions. One I and one III articles provided moderate evidence for psychoeducation interventions. One II and one IV provided low evidence for creative modalities. One II article that provided low evidence for technology-based interventions.

Conclusions: To address the transition to motherhood, occupational therapists can consider providing individual and group psychoeducation and social support interventions routinely and can consider creative modalities and technology-based interventions on a case-by-case basis.

What this study adds: Based on the literature, occupational therapists provide their clients with valuable, evidence-based interventions that cover aspects of the physical, psychological, social, and relational effects needed to support women's transition into motherhood.

References:

Hwang, W. Y., Choi, S. Y., & An, H. J. (2022). Concept analysis of transition to motherhood: a methodological study. Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing, 28(1), 8–17. https://doi.org/10.4069/kjwhn.2022.01.04

Marinucci, A. M. (2023). Assisting mothers in the transition into motherhood. University of North Dakota Scholarly Commons. 579. https://commons.und.edu/ot-grad/579

Publication Date

2024

Keywords

Motherhood, Transitions, Interventions, Occupational Therapy

Disciplines

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy Interventions Supporting Women's Transition into Motherhood: A Systematized Review​

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