The study on Mothers Touch at University of Oxford revolves around the “Evolving Indian Post-Partum Care through a Service Model: Qualitative Study of Experience and Satisfaction”.

The reasons of taking up this study were:

• Previous studies have explored the traditional belief and practices in cultures other than Indian
• No previous study has focused on the impact of traditional care on the outcome of post natal care 
• To explore the experience, satisfaction, and quality of life of new mothers after experiencing the traditional post natal care offered by Mothers Touch team

The goal behind the Mothers Touch Program:

• Bridge the gap between traditional practices and modern society 
• Train the traditional birth attendants, care providers, and prepare them for any medical concerns or issues related to childbirth
• Create a regulated industry of demand and supply for better support and employment  prospects

The Study Procedure

The study consisted of a mixed-method study using semi-structured interviews. The samples were collected from six different hospital sites in Northern India (Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi) and inner parts of Maharashtra (tribal community). 

It consisted of a selection of 92 participants during their last term of pregnancy who were offered home care by Mothers Touch. The procedures were implemented by the family members, who were briefed about the care and routine to be followed post delivery.

Outcome of the Study

The study revealed that:

• Postpartum care professionals provide mothers with assistance in food, household chores, mother and new-born care solving all the mothers’ needs. 
• Mothers get sufficient rest and comfort, which directly helps in their overall emotional and physical wellbeing. 
• The professionalism of the personnel providing postpartum home care service make women feel safe. 
• The family members’ approval of the postpartum care personnel make women feel their decision to receive the postpartum home visiting service was right, giving them an overall satisfaction. 
• The postpartum home care service providers understand the consumers’ feelings better enabling them to improve the experience through appropriate service methods.

Conclusion

This study addressed various important issues. It looked into how women experience and make use of the traditional care. Women clearly explained their emotional and physical comfort from the care and support provided. Also, the study revealed the care mothers felt they needed and how they experienced that help. 

Breastfeeding also emerged as a key area with which women felt they needed support with but which was not easily available. Mothers even felt that they needed support with resolving feelings around births and new adjustments.

Dr. Rekha Chaudhari’s study on “The Role of Indian Post-partum Care in Women’s Psychological Functioning” received appreciation and recognition at the John Hopkins University.

The study observed that:

• The postpartum period starts from 1 h after delivery to 42 days and is a critical period for the mothers’ health
• Women experience various physical, mental, and emotional changes during this period, which may interfere with their daily routine. 
• A wide range of complications have been reported during this period such as physical, mental, and emotional problems including fatigue, concerns with regard to sexual intercourse, hemorrhoids, constipation, breastfeeding problem, anxiety, stress, depression, sleep disorders, bleeding, urinary incontinence, and posttraumatic stress disorder. 
• Women’s health after delivery is the most important factor affecting the health of their children.

They study emphasis on:

• The provision of postpartum care being highly necessary to prevent unwanted complications.
• Indian Postpartum care is designed to support the mothers to cope with the new situation. 
• Postpartum care is a suitable method to obviate the educational and supportive needs of mothers because it is often difficult for them to go somewhere during the 1st day after delivery and it would be best if they could be provided with care services at the convenience of their home.

The Reason behind the Study

The most important factors that led to this study are:

• No previous study has been found to assess impact of Indian postpartum care on women’s psychological functioning. 
• Considering the limited number of studies on the postpartum care services in India, this study aimed to design and provide postpartum care service for mothers to assess its efficacy. 
• The results of this study can help promote mothers’ health and their satisfaction since it is believed that postpartum services can significantly decrease the common complications in this period and increase mothers’ satisfaction.

Methodology Used

The study was conducted after ethical approval was taken from IRB and written consent from the participants.

The study was conducted between April 2018 and July 2018, based on a cohort, including a randomised controlled trial. The comparative groups used in the study were mother care programs and usual care programs.

The mother care program focused on a combination of diet, massage, body binding methods along with 40 days of rest following the traditional way of delivery. While in the usual care program, comparison cohort was followed in usual care under the supervision of health professionals.

110 pregnant women between 18 years and 35 years, with probability samples were preselected from 4 hospitals in India.

The criteria for selection were:

• Healthy women giving birth for the first time (primiparous)
• Giving informed consent
• Accepting traditional home care

Women who were excluded were those with:

• A history of mental health condition
• A history of drug or substance abuse

Conclusion of the Study

Based on the results of this study, the following conclusions were formed:

• Postpartum home care met the needs of the mothers to a great extent and decreased the prevalence of some common physical postpartum complications.

• The intervention group had higher frequency of the use of supplements and higher satisfaction with the service provided.
• Thus, it was recommended that the health authorities consider providing mothers with home care services to promote their health.
• This intervention was recommended to be included in the national protocol of mothers’ health.

This study on “Indian Postpartum Care:  Randomised Trial to Improve Maternal Health, Six Weeks After Birth” has been received and recognized by the Harvard University. 

Reasons for the Study

The study focuses on Traditional Maternal Care (TMC) program during postnatal period.  There has been no previous study to explore impact of TMC on maternal health. 

The reason behind this study encompasses the following points:

• Public health programmes on child development in low income countries are starting to focus on interventions that promote maternal mental health and appropriate parenting as a means to improve child outcomes. 
• There is some evidence that support and counselling in the antenatal period improve maternal and child health outcomes.
• Recent randomised clinical trials from developing countries have shown the efficacy of antidepressants and group psychotherapy.
• There are few studies of interventions specifically for postnatal depression in low income countries.
• Attempts to show the efficacy of a preventive intervention in low income countries have so far either failed or been only partially successful. 
• In India, there is a low access and non-availability of psychiatric treatment and management, counselling, cognitive behavioural therapies, and psychotherapies, preventive intervention, community intervention, and health care professional intervened programs.
• After the child birth most women experience major health issues such as depression, severe fatigue, back pain, perineal pain, mastitis, urinary or faecal incontinence, sexual problems and relationship problems with partners. 
• Women suffer from poor emotional and mental health due to factors contributing to isolation, exhaustion and physical health problems. 
• Poor mental health in mothers have adverse consequences on their children’s health and development. 

Background of the Study

The study takes into co consideration the following factors:

• Several studies provide compelling evidence that postnatal depression is associated with long-term emotional, cognitive, and behavioural problems in children. 
• Several possible mechanisms could link maternal depression with their young children’s failure to thrive. 
• Studies suggest that depressed mood during pregnancy is associated with poor attendance at antenatal clinics, low birth weight, and preterm delivery.
• Among the many health problems facing families rearing children in low income countries are two common conditions—postnatal depression and infant failure to thrive. 

Outcome of the Study

• It is generally accepted that post partum care is beneficial for mothers and their children in both short and long terms. However, no previous data was available on the Indian post partum care and maternal quality of life. 
• The main purpose of our study was to determine whether there were differences in quality of life at the sixth week post partum depending on the type of care the mother receives. 
• To our knowledge, this is the first randomised controlled study to explore the impact of Indian post partum care on quality of life. 
• Significant improvement in overall quality of life at sixth week in care group was observed.

Conclusion

The study finally declared that the traditional Indian postpartum care can reduce the incidences of postpartum depression and improve the health due to a balanced diet and balanced lifestyle.