Husband's support was significantly associated with maternal well-being both directly and indirectly through breastfeeding self-efficacy and sleep quality, accounting for 42% of the variance in well-being among postpartum women in Pariaman, Indonesia.
Husband's support was significantly and positively associated with breastfeeding self-efficacy among postpartum women.
Husband's support was significantly and positively associated with maternal well-being in the postpartum period.
Husband's support was significantly and negatively associated with poor sleep quality among postpartum women.
Husband's support had a moderate direct effect on maternal well-being in the structural equation model.
Breastfeeding self-efficacy and sleep quality each mediated the relationship between husband's support and maternal well-being.
This research suggests that when husbands are more involved and supportive in the postpartum period, new mothers in Pariaman, Indonesia tend to have better overall well-being. The study found this connection works in multiple ways: directly, and also through two important pathways — mothers with more husband support felt more confident about breastfeeding, and they also slept better, both of which in turn contributed to higher well-being. Together, these factors explained about 42% of the differences in maternal well-being observed among the women studied. The study used validated questionnaires to measure husband support, breastfeeding confidence, sleep quality, and well-being in postpartum women living in urban and semi-urban areas. Statistical modeling confirmed that husband support was linked not just directly to better maternal well-being, but also indirectly by boosting breastfeeding confidence and reducing sleep problems — two common challenges new mothers face. This research suggests that involving husbands more actively in postpartum care could be an important strategy for improving new mothers' health outcomes, particularly in cultural contexts like West Sumatra where the role of husband support may be underappreciated. Programs aimed at educating and encouraging husbands to support their partners after birth — whether through helping with nighttime duties to improve sleep or encouraging breastfeeding — may have meaningful benefits for maternal well-being.
Oktavia S, Kanathasan J. (2026). Maternal well-being in the postpartum period: The mediating role of breastfeeding self-efficacy, sleep quality, and husband's support.. African journal of reproductive health. https://doi.org/10.29063/ajrh2026/v30i2.5