The Effect of Haptonomy Applied to Pregnant Women

Background: Stress experienced during pregnancy can increase fear of childbirth, cause negative perinatal outcomes, and adversely affect the maternal-infant attachment process. Aim: This study was conducted to determine the effect of haptonomy applied to pregnant women on perceived stress, fear of childbirth, and prenatal attachment. Methods: The population of the randomized controlled experimental study consisted of 72 primiparous pregnant women within the gestational weeks 22-28 who presented to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Polyclinic of a state hospital in Turkey for check-up (36 experimental subjects, 36 control subjects). A home visit was made to the experimental group, and haptonomy was applied for at least 30 minutes, once a week, for 7 weeks (with the researcher for 3 weeks, with the husband by providing the training brochure and video that will help the practice for the next 4 weeks). The control group did not receive any treatment. Data were collected at the first, third, and seventh weeks using the Pregnancy Description form, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire version A (W-DEQ-A), and the Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI). Number and percentage distribution, chi-square test, t test, Mann-Whitney U test, repeated measures, two-way analysis of variance, Friedman test, and Cohen d test were used in the evaluation of the data.