Empowering Families, Saving Lives: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Grouped-Based Family Therapy and Psychoeducation in Reducing Maternal Mortality in Bada Community Adamawa State

Abstract

Introduction: This study evaluated the effectiveness of psychoeducation and family therapy done in groups in decreasing the risks of maternal mortality among households in Bada community, Adamawa State.

Methods: Through a three-phase (mixed) study, 510 women were involved in a baseline survey, 96 in psychoeducation intervention, and 21 families in an eight-week family therapy programme. There was the use of systematic sampling, purposive selection, and validated tools in data collection.

Results: The result indicated that the majority of the participants had experienced perinatal loss and low levels of knowledge about the risks of maternal health at baseline, but after the intervention, the situation was found to have improved considerably. The technique of psychoeducation has raised good knowledge to 62.5 per cent and influenced improvements in attitudes and intentions to obtain quality care (p < 0.001). Furthermore, group-based family therapy showed even more results, increasing the level of positive family communication, male involvement, and tangible family health planning by more than 50 percentage points (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The study affirms that psychoeducation enhances the awareness, whereas family therapy augments the dedication and collective responsibility at the household level to overcome the challenges to safe maternal practices enforced by the cultural blocks.