Midwife-Led Digital Follow-Up After Cesarean Section

NCT07523932 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: GU-POST-CS-2026-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 104
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of a midwife-led digital follow-up program on postpartum depression, perceived social support, and breastfeeding self-efficacy in women who will undergo cesarean section. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group that will receive structured face-to-face education followed by a 4-week digital follow-up program, or a control group that will receive routine postpartum care. Data will be collected at baseline (postpartum day 1), at 1 week, and at 4 weeks postpartum using validated measurement tools. The study will provide evidence on the effectiveness of continuous, midwife-led digital support in improving maternal psychological well-being and breastfeeding outcomes in the early postpartum period.

Conditions

Postpartum Depression; Breastfeeding; Postpartum Period

Keywords

Cesarean Section; Midwife-Led Intervention; Digital Follow-Up; Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy; Social Support; Postpartum Care

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Postpartum Depression

  Postpartum depression will be measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a 10-item self-report scale with total scores ranging from 0 to 30. Higher scores will indicate more severe depressive symptoms.

  Baseline (first postpartum day), 1 week postpartum, and 4 weeks postpartum

• Perceived Social Support

  Perceived social support will be measured using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), a 12-item scale with total scores ranging from 12 to 84. Higher scores will indicate greater perceived social support.

  Baseline (first postpartum day), 1 week postpartum, and 4 weeks postpartum

• Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy

  Breastfeeding self-efficacy will be measured using the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (BSES), a 33-item scale with total scores ranging from 33 to 165. Higher scores will indicate higher breastfeeding self-efficacy.

  Baseline, 1 week, and 4 weeks postpartum

Study Arms (2)

Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive a midwife-led face-to-face education session and a 4-week digital follow-up program.

Behavioral: Midwife-Led Digital Follow-Up Program

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants will receive routine postpartum care without additional structured support.

Interventions

Midwife-Led Digital Follow-Up Program BEHAVIORAL

Participants will receive a structured face-to-face education session on the first postpartum day followed by a 4-week digital follow-up program including weekly educational messages, individualized counseling, and continuous support via mobile communication platforms.

Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: This study includes only women who have undergone cesarean section in the postpartum period.
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Women aged between 18 and 45 years
• Women who have undergone cesarean section
• Within the first 24 hours postpartum
• Able to communicate in Turkish
• Having a healthy singleton newborn
• Willing to participate and provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• History of psychiatric disorders
• Presence of severe maternal complications
• Newborn requiring intensive care unit admission
• Women with communication difficulties
• Participation in another intervention study

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Inonu University: lead
• Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Giresun University

Giresun, Giresun, 28200, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression, Postpartum; Breast Feeding

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Puerperal Disorders; Pregnancy Complications; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorders; Mental Disorders; Feeding Behavior; Behavior

Central Study Contacts

Tuba E Benli

CONTACT

+90 552 456 58 28; enise.benli@giresun.edu.tr

Emel Güçlü Cihan

CONTACT

emelcihan@ksu.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Masking Details: Due to the nature of the intervention, blinding of participants and care providers will not be possible.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving a midwife-led digital follow-up program or a control group receiving routine postpartum care.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 5, 2026
• First Posted: April 13, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Last Updated: April 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)