title: Women's perceptions of emotional support following childbirth: a qualitative investigation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to describe perceptions of participating in a study testing the effectiveness of a perinatal emotional support intervention (Promoting Resilience in Mothers Emotions; PRIME) by women identified as experiencing emotional distress after birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  qualitative descriptive approach. Semi-structured telephone interviews with 33 women recruited as part of a larger RCT to test the efficacy of a counselling intervention (PRIME). Women who received either (1) the intervention (counselling (or PRIME)) (n=16), (2) active control (Parenting support) (n=12), or (3) matched control (standard care) (n=5), were interviewed at 12 months postpartum. Thematic analysis of data was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  'promoting reflection' and 'feeling cared for', were phrases that all participants used to describe their experience in the project regardless of group allocation. Women receiving PRIME reported 'getting in touch with (their) feelings' and 'moving on' as beneficial outcomes. Two women who received counselling reported 'having things left unresolved' indicating that their needs had not been met. Some women in both the active control and intervention identified that contact was 'nice but not hugely helpful or needed'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  positive outcomes of PRIME were evident and most participants desired postpartum contact. Some women needed additional follow up and targeted assistance. Findings support the importance of providing personalised postnatal care that addresses women's emotional health needs.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Maternity and Family Unit, Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, University Drive, Meadowbrook, Queensland 4131, Australia. j.fenwick@griffith.edu.au
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fenwick
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gamble
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Creedy
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barclay
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buist
authors.forename: Elsa Lena
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Ryding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support