International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78025120120915618ENStudent of PHD of Reproductive Health, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranPHD of Epidemoilogy, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranPHD of Biostatistics, Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.MSc of Midwifery, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.20120915<p><strong>Background:</strong> Postpartum care at home is a post delivery care method that can be provided by public health nurses, trained health workers, or midwifery nurses. A study conducted to compare <br />effect of two midwife visits at home to usual postpartum care on the healthy behaviors of low-risk Iranian mothers.<br /><strong>Methods:</strong> A randomized controlled trial conducted on 200 mothers at a reference center for screening for infant hypothyroidism in Tehran. Mothers were randomized to either home-based (n= 100) or routine-based postpartum care (n= 100). Each mother and her neonate received two cares. Home-based cares were provided by a midwife in the intervention group. Postpartum cares in the control group were provided by care providers of primary health care system. Healthy behavior was measured using a validated and reliable researcher made instrument. The data were analyzed using independent sample t-tests, paired t-test, and &chi;2-test.<br /><strong>Results:&nbsp;</strong> The data showed that a significant number of&nbsp; subjects in the control group did not receive their postpartum <br />care (P&lt; 0.001). The mean score of maternal healthy behaviors in the intervention group increased from 120.5 (SE= 0.76) to 148.9 (SE= 1.02) (P&lt; 0.001) and in the control group from 119.9 (SE= 1.06) to 140.9 (SE= 1.08) (P&lt; 0.001). The mean score of maternal healthy behaviors in the intervention group had significant differences with that in the control group at the end of study (P&lt; 0.001).<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong>Early postpartum care at home by trained midwives can be positively effective for improving maternal healthy behaviors in less developed countries.<br /><strong>Keywords:</strong>Care, home visit, Iran, maternal healthy behavior, <br />midwifery nurses, postpartum</p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/911http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/911/1350