Nety Mawarda Hatmanti1,2*, Uliyatul Laili1,3, Nurul Kamariyah1, Yurike Septianingrum1, Rusdianingseh1
1Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, 60237 Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
2School of Nursing and Applied Science, Lincoln University College, Wisma Lincoln, 12-18, Jalan SS 6/12, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
3Faculty of Medicine, Brawijaya University, Kota Malang, 65145 Jawa Timur, Indonesia
*Corresponding Author’s Email: nety.mawarda@unusa.ac.id
ABSTRACT
Background: One of the most common types of depression in new mothers, postpartum depression (PPD), affects millions worldwide. Yet many face barriers to accessing therapy, such as time, financial and childcare challenges. The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a telemedicine-based supportive educative system, grounded in family- centered care, in enhancing family support and reducing depression during the postpartum period. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with pre-test-post-test control groups was used to assess the impact of telemedicine. Postpartum women and their families were randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The intervention group received telemedicine sessions educating families to provide support with the Zoom meeting platform, while the control group received standard care. Validated PSSQ (Postpartum Social Support Questionnaire) and EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) were administered at baseline and post-intervention. Results: The Wilcoxon test results in the intervention group revealed significant improvements in husband’s support (p=0.000), parental support (p=0.005) and friend’s support (p=0.026) after the intervention, indicating increased support for participants. However, no significant change was observed in support from in-laws (p=0.138). In the control group, a significant increase was noted in husband’s support (p=0.009), while parental support (p=0.126) showed no significant enhancement. Additionally, the paired t-test results in the control group indicated no significant changes in support from in-laws (p=0.411) or friend’s support (p=0.437). Conclusion: The telemedicine-based supportive educational system using family-centred care effectively enhances family support and reduces postpartum depression, offering a promising approach to improve postpartum mental health outcomes.
INTRODUCTION
PPD (Post Partum Depression) is a significant mental health concern affecting many women worldwide, including in Surabaya, East Java. This is a widespread public health issue that adversely affects moms, couples' relationships, neonatal neurodevelopment and children's emotional and cognitive growth (Severo et al., 2023; Liu et al., 2022). Studies indicate that the prevalence of PPD in this region can reach alarming levels, with a significant percentage of postpartum women reporting mild to moderate symptoms of depression. This mental health issue is exacerbated by various factors, including inadequate social support, low self-efficacy, and economic strains faced by families (Nugrahaeni et al., 2022; Basu et al., 2021). The quality of family relationships plays a crucial role in mitigating the risks of PPD; when family support is weak or insufficient mothers may experience heightened distress, leading to adverse health outcomes not only for themselves but also for their infants (Muliyani & Suryaningsih, 2023; Qi et al., 2022).
Globally, estimates suggest that postpartum depression affects approximately 10-15% of mothers within the first year after childbirth (Utamidewi et al., 2023; Wang et al., 2021). However, research has indicated that rates can be much higher in certain contexts. For instance, studies across various continents have reported PPD prevalence rates ranging from 13% in developed nations to as high as 85% in certain developing regions, particularly in Asia (Maryatun et al., 2023). In Southern Asia specifically, the prevalence of PPD has been noted to be about 22.3%, while Africa reports an even higher incidence in some contexts, potentially exceeding 39%. In Indonesia, the situation reflects a concerning trend. Research indicates that the prevalence of postpartum depression is estimated to be approximately 19.8%, with significant variability across regions and urban versus rural populations (Aadillah & Nurbaeti, 2023). A national survey of postpartum mothers experienced PPD, indicating the need for further targeted interventions (Ariasih & Budiharsana, 2023).
Programs for prevention have been demonstrated to lessen depression. Interventions for parents of kids with behavioral issues may lessen their depression symptoms and enhance their kids' outcomes (WHO, 2025). According to earlier research by Ayoub et al. (2017), the prevalence of postpartum depression is a significant health issue for Palestinian mothers and is mostly linked to psychosocial stressors during pregnancy. The inclusion of postpartum screening within antenatal and postnatal health care is strongly urged, along with the provision of additional counselling time for mothers in addition to routine medical services. It is also acknowledged that further research is required due to the small sample size and the non- randomized approach used in the study. The impact of telemedicine therapies on mental health problems connected to PPD, such as social support, loneliness, and anxiety, was previously studied. However, social support and loneliness among PPD-affected women were not significantly improved by telemedicine therapy (Zhao et al., 2021). Hardiness training is another therapy that has been researched to lessen postpartum depression. The findings demonstrated a substantial difference between those who received hardiness training and those who did not when it came to postpartum depression and stress. Hardiness training develops one's flexibility, increases illness resistance, ensures physical and mental health and in the end offers the person a sense of accomplishment. It also leads to increased responsibility for thoughts, feelings and actions in one's life (Bakhshizadeh et al., 2013).
Several studies have highlighted the limitations and shortcomings of telemedicine interventions within maternal health contexts. For instance, Gomez-Roas et al. (2022) identified that low-income postpartum individuals faced formidable barriers in accessing telemedicine, which exacerbated existing physical and mental health challenges during the pandemic. The rapid shift to telemedicine amid these barriers resulted in fragmented care, thereby limiting its effectiveness in addressing PPD. Similarly, research by Leung et al. (2023) indicated that the uptake of telemedicine services among rural populations was significantly lower than in urban settings, primarily due to stigma, cultural norms and disparities in mental health workforce availability. These findings suggest that an unmonitored expansion of telemedicine may neglect the unique needs of diverse demographics within maternal health care.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, telemedicine has grown tremendously. During the pandemic, telemedicine has grown at an unprecedented rate to address maternal mental health. Telemedicine can be at least as successful as in-person care, according to research from the past 15 months (Telemedicine may just include educational components; it is more inclusive than telemedicine but still includes it). Two studies are mentioned in this article that show the potential of telehealth to improve maternal mental health in terms of prenatal distress, anxiety associated with pregnancy and the postpartum period (Hawkins, 2023).
Telemedicine therapies indicated feasibility and acceptability among women in the postnatal period and dramatically reduced postpartum depression symptoms when compared to standard care (Hanach et al., 2021). The relationship between telemedicine, family support and postpartum depression in mothers is a multifaceted issue that has gained increasing attention in recent years.
METHODOLOGY
Study Design and Population
This quasi-experimental study used a pre-test–post-test design with two groups (intervention and control). The sample size was calculated using a two-group comparison test (independent t-test, assuming normally distributed data, α = 0.083). Baseline demographic characteristics were compared between the intervention and control groups using the independent t-test for continuous variables and the chi-square test for categorical variables. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM Statistics version 26. The study population included all postpartum mothers who delivered at Rumah Sakit Islam Surabaya Jemursari. Based on the sample size formula and to account for potential dropouts or incomplete data, 52 participants were included in each group.
To maintain methodological rigor and ensure alignment with the target population, inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Inclusion criteria required participants to be mothers aged 18 years or older, within one day postpartum, able to access a smartphone with internet connectivity for the telemedicine intervention and able to read and understand Bahasa Indonesia. Exclusion criteria included mothers living alone or without family support and those experiencing postpartum complications.
Data Collection
Participants in the intervention group completed the baseline PSSQ (Postpartum Social Support Questionnaire) and EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) at hospital discharge and received standardized education from a nurse or midwife as part of discharge planning. On the seventh postpartum day, they and their families were contacted via WhatsApp and given a link to a scheduled Zoom session. This synchronous session provided structured education, interactive discussions, Q&A, and sharing of caregiving experiences related to maternal and infant care. Immediately afterward, participants received a Google Form link to complete the posttest PSSQ and EPDS. They also received appreciation items, including a discharge gift, printed leaflets, digital care modules and e-money credit.
Control group participants also completed the baseline PSSQ and EPDS at discharge but received only one-time leaflet-based education with no additional online sessions. On the seventh postpartum day, they were contacted via WhatsApp to complete the posttest questionnaires through Google Forms. After data collection was completed for both groups, control participants were provided with the same Zoom-based online educational session as ethical compensation, ensuring they ultimately received comparable educational content.
Family Support Assessment
Family support was assessed using the Postpartum Social Support Questionnaire (PSSQ), a 50- item self-administered tool that measures both practical and emotional support received by new mothers. The questionnaire evaluates support from spouses, parents, in-laws, friends and other relatives. For use during pregnancy, the PSSQ was adapted by changing verbs from the present to the future tense to assess anticipated postpartum support (e.g., “How often does your husband/partner help…?” changed to “How often will your husband/partner help…?”) (Hopkins & Campbell, 2008; Miller et al., 2012).
The PSSQ consists of four subscales: spousal support, parental support, in-law support and support from friends or individuals outside the family (Wiyanto & Ambarwati, 2021). Responses are rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (“never”) to 7 (“very often”), reflecting mothers’ perceived frequency of received emotional support (Hitzler et al., 2022).
Postpartum Depression Assessment
The EPDS is one of the most widely used instruments for screening as an initial diagnosis in cases of postpartum depression in Indonesia. The EPDS has 10 questions with the answer scale of each question 0-3 depending on the severity of feelings felt during the past 7 days. The EPDS has a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 82% with a cut off score of 10. A score of 10 or higher indicates that further assessment of the postpartum mother is required (Adli, 2022).
Ethical Considerations
The research obtained ethical clearance from the Health Research Ethics Commission, Surabaya Islamic Hospital Jemursari, Indonesia with reference number 121/KEPK- RSISJS/VIII/2023 on 9th August 2023.
RESULTS
Characteristics | Intervention Group (n=52) | Control Group (n=52) | P value |
n (%), M SD | |||
Mother’s age | 27.814.08 | 29.985.03 | 0.589 |
Husband’s age | 30.175.70 | 31.624.76 | 0.082 |
Length of marriage | 3.713.53 | 4.774.18 | 0.210 |
Number of Children | |||
1 | 28(26.9) | 20(19.2) | >0.05 |
2 | 18(17.3) | 18(17.3) | |
3 | 6(5.8) | 11(10.6) | |
4 | 0(0) | 3(2.9) | |
Birth Number | |||
1st | 28(26.9) | 23(22.1) | >0.05 |
2nd | 18(17.3) | 18(17.3) | |
3rd | 6(5.8) | 8(7.7) | |
4th | 0(0) | 3(2.9) | |
Education | |||
Basic education | 3(2.9) | 0(0) | >0.05 |
Secondary education | 22(21.2) | 24(23.1) | |
Higher education | 27(26) | 28(26.9) | |
Living Arrangement | |||
Only husband and wife | 25(24) | 20(19.2) | >0.05 |
With parents or parents-in-law | 21(20.2) | 24(23.1) | |
With extended family | 6(5.8) | 8(7.7) | |
Table 1 shows the demographic characteristics of the 52 postpartum mothers in both the intervention and control groups. The mean age of mothers was similar (27.81 ± 4.08 years vs. 29.98 ± 5.03 years), as was the mean age of husbands (30.17 ± 5.70 years vs. 31.62 ± 4.76 years). Length of marriage also showed no major differences (3.71 ± 3.53 years vs. 4.77 ± 4.18 years).
Parity distributions were comparable: in the intervention group, 28 mothers (26.9%) were primiparous and 18 (17.3%) had two children; in the control group 20 (19.2%) were primiparous and 18 (17.3%) had two children. Only a small number in both groups had three or more children and most were first- or second-time mothers. Educational levels were also similar. In the intervention group, 21.2% had secondary and 26.0% had higher education, while in the control group, 23.1% had secondary and 26.9% had higher education. Only three mothers (2.9%) in the intervention group had basic education and none in the control group.
Living arrangements followed the same pattern. In the intervention group, 25 mothers (24.0%) lived only with their husbands and 21 (20.2%) lived with parents or in-laws; in the control group, 20 (19.2%) lived with their husbands and 24 (23.1%) with parents or in-laws. Fewer participants in both groups lived with extended family. Overall, demographic characteristics were comparable across groups, indicating balanced baseline conditions before the intervention.
No. | Group | Variable | Test | Mean | Standard Deviation | p |
1 | Intervention | Husband’s support | Pretest | 53.40 | 26.76 | 0.000 |
Posttest | 76.69 | 7.66 | 0.000 | |||
Parental support | Pretest | 43.77 | 23.76 | 0.000 | ||
Posttest | 60.88 | 9.57 | 0.000 | |||
Support from in-laws | Pretest | 27.35 | 16.52 | 0.000 | ||
Posttest | 30.83 | 14.71 | 0.000 | |||
Friend’s support | Pretest | 47.44 | 24.6 | 0.000 | ||
Posttest | 56.42 | 18.27 | 0.000 | |||
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) | Pretest | 9.86 | 4.07 | 0.000 | ||
Posttest | 5.54 | 3.81 | 0.000 | |||
2 | Control | Husband’s support | Pretest | 67.92 | 19.53 | 0.000 |
Posttest | 74.52 | 9.83 | 0.000 | |||
Parental support | Pretest | 53.29 | 11.88 | 0.001 | ||
Posttest | 56.33 | 15.22 | 0.000 | |||
Support from in-laws | Pretest | 28.63 | 10.9 | 0.013 | ||
Posttest | 26.56 | 14.53 | 0.000 | |||
Friend’s support | Pretest | 43.35 | 13.28 | 0.039 | ||
Posttest | 45.31 | 11.47 | 0.000 | |||
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) | Pretest | 8.52 | 3.65 | 0.048 | ||
Posttest | 6.73 | 3.72 | 0.000 |
Based on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test presented in Table 2, several variables in the control group, including support from in-laws (pre-test), friend’s support (pre-test) and EPDS score (pre-test), showed p-values greater than =0.05, indicating that these data were normally distributed. In contrast, all remaining variables in both the intervention and control groups had p-values less than =0.05, demonstrating that the majority of the data did not follow a normal distribution. There, non-parametric statistical tests were used for inferential analysis.
No. | Variable | Test | Group | F | p |
1 | Husband’s support | Pretest | Experiment | 9.988 | 0.002 |
Control | |||||
2 | Parental support | Pretest | Experiment | 6.679 | 0.011 |
Control | |||||
3 | Support from in-laws | Pretest | Experiment | 0.220 | 0.640 |
Control | |||||
4 | Friend’s support | Pretest | Experiment | 1.117 | 0.293 |
Control | |||||
5 | Postpartum depression (EPDS) | Pretest | Experiment | 3.151 | 0.079 |
Control |
Table 3 presents the results of the homogeneity test conducted using Lavene’s test for all five variables measured during the pretest phase in both the intervention and control groups. The findings indicate that three variables support from in-laws (F=0.220, p=0.640), friend’s support (F=1.117, p=0.293) and postpartum depression (EPDS) (F=3.151, p=0.079) had p-values greater than =0.05, demonstrating that these data met the assumption of homogeneity of variance between groups. This suggests that baseline variability for these variables was comparable across the intervention and control groups prior to the intervention.
In contrast, two variables husband’s support (F=9.988, p=0.002) and parental support (F=6.679, p=0.011) showed p-values less than =0.05, indicating significant differences in variance between the two groups at baseline. These results indicate that the homogeneity assumption was not met for these variables; therefore, non-parametric tests were used to ensure analytical robustness. Overall, the findings show that although several domains of social support were similar between groups at baseline, significant differences were present in support from husbands and parents. These baseline differences informed the selection of appropriate statistical methods for further analysis.
The Telemedicine Intervention of Supportive Educative System Based on Family Centered Care Toward Family Support and Post partum depression
No. | Group | Variable | Test | z | p |
1 | Experiment | Husband’s support | Pretest | -4.096 | 0.000 |
Posttest | |||||
Parental support | Pretest | -2.838 | 0.005 | ||
Posttest | |||||
Support from in-laws | Pretest | -1.484 | 0.138 | ||
Posttest | |||||
Friend’s support | Pretest | -2.219 | 0.026 | ||
Posttest | |||||
2 | Control | Husband’s support | Pretest | -2.606 | 0.009 |
Posttest | |||||
Parental support | Pretest | -1.529 | 0.126 | ||
Posttest |
Based on Table 4, the Wilcoxon test revealed a significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores for husband’s support (z = -4.096, p < 0.001). This indicates a significant improvement in the level of support provided by husbands to their partners after the intervention. There was also a significant increase in parental support (z = -2.838, p = 0.005), suggesting that parents became more supportive of their daughters during the postpartum period following the intervention. No significant change was observed in support from in-laws (z = -1.484, p = 0.138), indicating that the intervention did not have a statistically significant impact on this form of support. Friends’ support showed a significant improvement (z = -2.219, p = 0.026), suggesting that friends became more supportive of the participants after the intervention.
In the control group, there was a significant increase in husband’s support (z = -2.606, p = 0.009), although the effect size may be smaller compared to the experimental group. Parental support in the control group did not show a significant change (z = -1.529, p = 0.126), indicating that the standard care or discharge planning process did not significantly enhance parental support.
No. | Group | Variable | Test | z | p |
1 | Control Group | Support from in-laws | Pretest | 0.838 | 0.411 |
Posttest | |||||
Friend’s support | Pretest | -0.783 | 0.437 | ||
Posttest |
According to Table 5, the paired t-test for support from in-laws in the control group showed no significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores (t = 0.838, p = 0.411). This suggests that the standard care did not influence the level of support provided by in-laws. Similarly, friend’s support in the control group did not show a significant change (t = -0.783, p = 0.437), indicating that the standard care had no notable impact on this variable.
Group | Postpartum Depression | t | p |
Experiment Group | Pretest | 7.209 | 0.000 |
Posttest | |||
Control Group | Pretest | 7.936 | 0.000 |
Posttest |
Based on Table 6, the paired t-test results for both the intervention group (p = 0.000) and the control group (p = 0.000), which are less than α (0.05), indicate a significant difference between pre-test and post-test postpartum depression scores. This shows that the Telemedicine Supportive Educative System based on Family-Centered Care had a significant effect on the intervention group and the counselling provided during the discharge planning process also produced a significant effect in the control group. Although both the intervention group and the control group showed significant effects, there was a significant decrease in the EPDS questionnaire scores after the intervention in the intervention group, with a mean difference of 4.33, whereas the control group had a mean difference of 1.79. Therefore, it can be concluded that although both groups experienced changes in their scores, the change in the control group tended to be smaller compared to the intervention group.
DISCUSSION
In the treatment group, the findings indicated a moderate negative correlation between maternal age and husband’s support (r = -0.310), suggesting that younger mothers tended to perceive higher levels of support compared to older mothers. This may be influenced by early-stage marital dynamics, heightened emotional dependence and flexible interpersonal interaction patterns typically observed among younger couples. These results are consistent with, who emphasized the influence of husband’s support on maternal self-efficacy and postpartum adjustment (Marcelina et al., 2020).
A very weak negative relationship was also noted between husband’s age and the support provided (r=-0.046). Although statistically insignificant, descriptive analysis showed that support peaked among husbands aged 30-33 and declined among those aged 37-39. Prior studies suggest that age related factors such as work responsibilities, stress burden, and role conflict can affect paternal involvement during the postpartum period (Putri, 2023; Thepha et al., 2024). Similarly, the weak negative association between length of marriage and husband’s support (r=-0.043) indicates that support tends to diminish over longer marital durations, potentially due to accumulated responsibilities, childcare demands and reduced frequency of emotional communication (Brahmana et al., 2023; Syahri et al., 2023).
Digital health interventions, such as telehealth education, have demonstrated a beneficial impact on caregiving dynamics. In this study, the most pronounced improvement in the control group occurred in husband’s support (p = 0.023). A plausible explanation is that, although the control group did not receive tele-education during the intervention period, they eventually received equivalent telehealth educational sessions after the posttest, which may have influenced their perceptions and responses. Moreover, husbands in the control group may have independently sought caregiving information from external sources, including digital platforms, family networks or online communities, indirectly enhancing their perceived support. This mechanism aligns with and who reported that telemedicine-enabled education improves paternal competence, communication and caregiving confidence even when educational exposure is brief or indirect (Hogue et al., 2021; Tobiloba et al., 2022).
Importantly, the present study found a significant reduction in EPDS scores in the control group, which requires a critical examination. Although the control group did not receive structured telehealth education during the intervention period, several factors may explain this improvement. First, all participants, both intervention and control groups received standardized discharge education and informational leaflets before leaving the hospital. Previous studies have shown that even basic postpartum counselling and printed educational materials can positively influence maternal mental health by improving knowledge, reducing uncertainty, and providing emotional reassurance (Heidi et al., 2023; Nugrahaeni et al., 2022).
Second, postpartum depression naturally declines in some mothers as hormonal fluctuations stabilize and family adaptation progresses during the first weeks postpartum noted that spontaneous remission of mild postpartum depressive symptoms is common, especially with strong informal family support (Zhao et al., 2021). As many control participants lived with parents or in-laws, the presence of extended family may have contributed to emotional buffering, stress reduction and practical assistance during postpartum care. Third, the act of being contacted for follow-up assessments may itself create a “research participation effect,” sometimes known as the Hawthorne effect, wherein participants feel attended to and supported simply by their involvement in the study. For some mothers, this can positively influence psychological well-being, even in the absence of a structured intervention.
Despite the improvement in the control group, the magnitude of reduction in EPDS scores was still greater in the intervention group, highlighting the added value of structured telehealth education. Telemedicine interventions have been shown to positively impact families by providing them with necessary education and support. In the results of this study, the most significant change was observed in the control group, specifically the support from the husband (p = 0.023). From the data, most of the respondents in the intervention group (75%) are newly married families with one child and they live independently, separate from their parents and siblings. This statement relates to previous research showing that telemedicine interventions equip husbands with practical skills and knowledge to better support their partners, enhancing their confidence and self-efficacy in caregiving roles (Hogue et al., 2021; Tobiloba et al., 2022). Telemedicine interventions have been shown to be effective in enhancing husbands’ involvement in family support by providing them with necessary skills, improving their well- being, facilitating better communication with healthcare providers and ultimately contributing to better care for their spouses. These benefits are particularly evident when video conferencing (in this case, by Zoom) is used, as it allows for more direct and immersive interactions compared to telephone-only interventions (Lai et al., 2020).
Telehealth platforms facilitate better communication between healthcare providers and spouses, enabling them to actively participate in care decisions (Okta & Jaizul, 2025). Virtual platforms provide educational resources on maternal health, childcare and preventive care, empowering families with knowledge. Some telemedicine interventions incorporate peer support groups, which have shown improvements to improve outcomes for postnatal depression and anxiety (Kumar et al., 2018).
Family support, especially from husbands, contributes significantly to a mother’s successful adaptation to her new role after childbirth (Sundary, 2024). This support allows mothers to focus more on baby care and establish a strong bond with their newborn. Mothers who have a positive birth experience and feel supported are more likely to be successful in breastfeeding, which has numerous health benefits for both the baby and the mother. Family support plays a significant role in mitigating the risk of postpartum depression. Research has consistently shown that a strong family support system can lead to lower incidences of postpartum depression. Previous research has shown that social support, particularly from partners and family members, significantly reduces the risk of postpartum depression (Nugrahaeni et al., 2022). Other research reported that mothers who received high levels of family support had a reduced risk of experiencing postpartum depression compared to those with lower support levels (Heidi et al., 2023; Mulyani et al., 2023).
Telemedicine interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing symptoms of postpartum depression (p = 0.001). Studies have shown that telehealth interventions can significantly reduce depression scores in postpartum women, as measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Telemedicine also allows for earlier recognition and diagnosis of postpartum depression symptoms, leading to increased referrals and timely treatment (Zhao et al., 2021). Strong husband support has been linked to a reduction in postpartum complications, including postpartum depression and anxiety. The presence and support of husbands during childbirth and the immediate postpartum period can help mothers feel more secure and confident in their new role (Heidi et al., 2023). This relationship underscores the importance of emotional and practical support from family members, which can be facilitated through telemedicine platforms that allow for virtual family interactions and counselling sessions (Kaplan & Çağlı, 2022).
Limitations
The non-normal distribution of the data for husband support, parental support, in-law support, and friend’s support has implications for the interpretation of the study findings. Since many statistical methods assume normality, deviations from this assumption may affect the accuracy of inferential analyses. In this study, non-parametric tests were used as an alternative to traditional parametric methods to ensure the robustness of the findings. However, non-parametric tests are generally less sensitive, meaning that small differences between groups may not be detected as statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
The telemedicine-based supportive educative system grounded in family-cantered care was shown to effectively enhance the level of support provided by husbands, parents and friends to postpartum mothers. The intervention also resulted in a significant reduction in postpartum depression scores, indicating its potential as an impactful strategy for improving maternal mental health. These findings suggest that telemedicine-supported family-centered interventions can serve as a valuable complement to traditional postpartum counselling methods.
Implications of this study extend to healthcare professionals, policymakers and maternal health program developers. In clinical practice, incorporating telemedicine-based supportive education into routine postpartum care can strengthen family involvement and help reduce the risk of postpartum depression, particularly for women facing challenges such as limited access to services, time constraints, or geographic barriers. Healthcare providers are encouraged to implement family-centered care approaches that facilitate structured education, collaborative communication and shared caregiving roles. Additionally, enhancing provider competencies in telehealth – such as virtual communication, cultural sensitivity and digital literacy – can improve the effectiveness and reach of these interventions.
From a policy perspective, strengthening telemedicine infrastructure and expanding digital health systems is essential to ensure equitable access to postpartum care across different regions. Policymakers should integrate family-centered telehealth programs into national maternal health frameworks and support community-based initiatives that promote active family participation and continuity of care.
Future research should focus on conducting longitudinal studies to evaluate the long-term impacts of telemedicine-based supportive interventions on maternal mental health and overall family well-being. Further exploration is also needed to understand cultural adaptation requirements and to examine the specific roles of husbands, parents, in-laws and extended families in supporting postpartum mothers. Such research will help refine and tailor interventions to diverse populations, enhancing their effectiveness and relevance.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicting interest.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This research is supported by Nahdlatul Ulama University Surabaya, Indonesia, through the Institute for Research and Community Service. The authors would like to thank the Rector of Unusa, the Head of LPPM Unusa, Indonesia, the Director, the research team of lecturers and students, and the Head of the Bachelor of Nursing Study Program, Jemursari Islamic Hospital Surabaya, Indonesia for their support. This research was financially supported by Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, Indonesia through the matching fund scheme in 2023.
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