Background and purpose: Nulliparous women with unplanned pregnancy experience high levels of anxiety during pregnancy. Maternal anxiety endangers the mother-infant interaction and maternal role attainment. Current study aimed at determining the effect of a maternal role training program on postpartum maternal role competence in nulliparous women with unplanned pregnancy.

Materials and methods: This clinical trial was conducted in 67 nulliparous women at 33 gestational age attending the Health centers in Mashhad, 2014-2015. They were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire, London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy (LMUP), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, and General Impressions on Infant Temperament Questionnaire. The intervention group undergone training programs in groups of 4-7 during 4 sessions at gestational weeks 34, 35, and 36 and before discharge, while the control group received usual care. Maternal role competence was evaluated before the intervention and four weeks after delivery.

Results: The mean scores for maternal role competence after the intervention were 39.26 ±4.598 and 35.91±5.526 in intervention group and control group, respectively, indicating a significant difference between the two groups ( P= 0.009).

Conclusion: Training the nulliparous women about maternal role during pregnancy and postpartum period could increase the maternal role competence in those with unplanned pregnancy.

(Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT2014060117948N1)