The relationship between social support and spousal support perceived by women in the postpartum period and readiness for discharge

Abstract

Abstract Aim: The study was conducted to determine the relationship between puerperal hospital readiness for discharge and social and spousal support. Materials and Methods:The descriptive and relationship-seeking study was conducted with 388 women hospitalized in the maternity ward of a public hospital. Personal Information Form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Spouse Support Scale Perceived by Women in Early Postpartum Period (SSSPWEPP) and Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale–New Mother Form (RHD-NMF) were used to collect the data. Results:The average score of postpartum women from RHD-NMF was 171.41±28.55 with 89.9% of them to be ready for discharge. There was a weak positive correlation between total scores from RHD-NMF and MSPSS and its sub-dimensions (family, friends) (r=.164, r=.177, r=.156, respectively; p<0.01); whilst there was a weak positive correlation between total scores from RHD-NMF and SSSPWEPP and its sub-dimensions (emotional, physical, social) (r=.249, r=.199, r=.194, r=.232, respectively;p<0.01). Conclusion and Suggestions:The study found that most of the postpartum women were ready for discharge. There was a positive correlation between preparedness for discharge and social and family support and support from friends in the puerperium period; also, more physical, emotional and social support from the spouse translated into more readiness for discharge from the hospital. In addition, it was found that the most important variablee affecting readiness for discharge from the hospital was the support of friends and physical support of the spouse.

Keywords

• puerperal
• discharge
• social support
• spousal support
• lohusa
• taburculuk
• sosyal destek
• eş desteği