Assessment of self-management empowerment program on sense of coherence, self-efficacy and postpartum anxiety in cesarean mothers randomized trial

Conflicting study outcomes on women undergoing cesarean sections underscore the complex relationship between repeated cesarean deliveries and factors such as sense of coherence, self-efficacy, and anxiety, highlighting the need for empowerment-based interventions to improve mothers’ mental health and parenting outcomes. This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate an educational program based on the self-management empowerment model on sense of coherence, self-efficacy, and postpartum anxiety in cesarean mothers. In 2024, 98 women scheduled for cesarean delivery at Shohada-ye-Khalij-e-Fars Hospital, Bushehr, Iran, were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned via block randomization to intervention (n = 49) or control (n = 49) groups. The intervention group received a five-step education program over two months. Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence Questionnaire, Sherer’s Self-Efficacy Scale, and Spielberger Anxiety Questionnaire were administered pre- and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 with descriptive/inferential statistics ( p < 0.05). Mean changes showed significant intervention effects: self-efficacy − 1.58 ± 7.31 (control) versus 2.79 ± 6.42 (intervention, ŋ 2 = 0.151, p < 0.001); sense of coherence 2.67 ± 8.36 (control) versus 4.81 ± 6.58 (intervention, ŋ 2 = 0.073, p = 0.018); anxiety 0.02 ± 15.99 (control) versus − 13.07 ± 13.7 (intervention, ŋ 2 = 0.224, p < 0.001). The self-management empowerment model significantly improved sense of coherence and self-efficacy while reducing postpartum anxiety, recommending its integration into postpartum care programs. Trial Registration http://www.irct.ir/ , IRCTID: IRCT20130422013092N12 registered July 11, 2024.