The effect of home care services on maternal health after cesarean delivery in Turkey

Abstract

Background: Cesarean delivery is one of the most common surgical procedures performed today in Turkey. Maternal death after cesarean delivery is rare. However, more maternal problems arise after cesarean delivery compared to vaginal delivery. Therefore, it is very important for the nurses to make home visits to the women who can not properly benefit health services due to early postpartum discharge. The present research was conducted in order to determine the effect on maternal health of home care services given to the women who were discharged from hospital 96 hours after cesarean delivery.

Methods: This randomized control study consisted of 140 women (intervention group=70, control group=70) who resided in Middle Anatolia, Turkey. Three home visits were made on the 2nd, 15th and 42nd postpartum days after discharge of the women in the intervention group. Care and training was given to the women during these visits. There was no intervention for women in the control group.

Results: A statistically significant difference was found in favor of the intervention group in terms of health problems during the 6-week postpartum period.

Conclusions: The research indicated that nurses’ planned home visits to women discharged early from hospital following birth by cesarean delivery affected mother’s health positively.