The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Counseling on Sleep Quality Women with a History of COVID-19 in Pregnancy

Background: During the COVID-19 outbreak, certain populations, including pregnant women, were particularly vulnerable. This increased susceptibility could lead to postnatal complications, including sleep disorders, which are common in the postpartum period. Objectives: To determine the effect of mindfulness-based counseling on sleep quality in women with a history of COVID-19 during pregnancy. Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pre- and post-consultation design and included 100 women with a history of COVID-19 during pregnancy. Using convenience sampling, participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Data were collected through a demographic questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The intervention group received eight weekly mindfulness-based counseling sessions, each lasting 45 minutes, conducted via social messenger by the researcher. Outcomes were assessed eight weeks after the final counseling session. Results: The two study groups were comparable in terms of demographic characteristics. In the intervention group, mean sleep quality scores improved from 7.28 ± 0.99 at the beginning to 4.28 ± 0.79 at the end of the study (95%CI: 2.18 to 3.81, MD = 3, P = 0.002). In the control group, scores changed from 6.94 ± 0.84 to 6.76 ± 0.71 (95%CI: - 0.20 to 0.33, MD = 0.18, P = 0.820). Comparing the groups after counseling, the intervention group had a mean sleep quality score of 4.28 ± 0.79, while the control group had 6.76 ± 0.71 (95%CI: 1.68 to 3.31, MD = 2.50, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Mindfulness-based counseling positively affected sleep quality in the intervention group. Utilizing existing social networking platforms for such interventions can effectively improve sleep quality in women.