Integrating Psychophysiological Birth Education into Maternity Care: Impact on Labor Pain, Psychological Well-Being, and Maternal Outcomes

Background: Husband's support in the birthing process can reduce maternal anxiety and has a positive impact on childbirth. Purpose: This study aims to determine the effect of the psychophysiological education model of childbirth on husbands' activeness in supporting childbirth in the Muara Enim Community Health Centers. Method: The research design is a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest approach. The population of this study was pregnant women with a gestational age of 28-36 weeks. Respondents in this study were 86, divided into two groups. The research was conducted in April-December 2024. The intervention group was provided with systematic education on birth psychophysiology, while the control group received standard care. Data collection was conducted using a pre-test before the intervention and a post-test on husbands' knowledge and behavior. Delivery and postpartum outcomes were measured using observation and questionnaires. Data analysis used chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and Friedman tests. Finding: The results showed that the husband's knowledge and behavior increased significantly (p-value 0.000). Maternal anxiety, labor pain, labor duration and birth experience were better in the intervention group (p-value 0.000), although lacerations and APGAR scores were not significant. Postpartum outcomes showed no difference in involution and breastfeeding practices, but self-efficacy and postpartum depression were better in the intervention group (p value <0.05). Conclusion and Recommendation: Husband education using a psychophysiological model can be an alternative to the importance of the husband's presence in childbirth preparation to improve good birth and postpartum outcomes.