The Meleis Theory on Postpartum Depression, Breastfeeding, and Maternal Self-Efficacy in Women Experiencing Preterm Birth

A randomized controlled study will be conducted to evaluate the impact of nursing intervention based on Meleis\' Transition Theory on postpartum depression, maternal self-efficacy, and breastfeeding self-efficacy in women who have experienced preterm birth. The postpartum period represents a transitional and adaptive phase for mothers as they embrace a new role. However, the occurrence of preterm birth and the necessity of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) care for the newborn can initiate emotional distress in mothers, particularly when facing the admission of their infants to the intensive care setting. Consequently, the transition to new roles for mothers becomes challenging. A healthy transition to the maternal role is crucial for mothers who have experienced preterm birth, positively influencing maternal self-efficacy and breastfeeding practices while reducing the likelihood of postpartum depression. Therefore, the transition to motherhood in women with preterm births is of paramount importance for both the mother and the premature infant, warranting careful consideration and discussion. Women who have experienced preterm birth will constitute the population of the study. During the research period, women who have experienced preterm birth and whose infants are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) will form the population of the study, and the sample will consist of women who consent to participate in the study during the study period. The sample size was estimated using power analysis (G Power 3.1.9.4.) program with a power of (1-β=0.90) and a significance level of (α=0.05), taking into account the mean and standard deviation of a similar study in the literature (Kadiroğlu and Güdücü Tüfekci 2022) (63.53±8.67 for the experimental group; 56.63±9.73 for the control group). The sample size of the study was calculated to be sufficient with a total of 64 women, with 32 women in each group. Considering potential losses during the study process, and in order not to compromise the statistical power of the research, an additional 20% of women were included in the study, resulting in a total of 76 women to be included in the study. Within the scope of the research, data will be obtained through the \'Personal Data Form\' containing information about the socio-demographic characteristics of the participating women, as well as the \'Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale,\' \'Perceived Maternal Self-Efficacy Scale,\' and the \'Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale.