CONCLUSION
QMI
This study evaluated a programme we developed for couples to enhance understanding of the physical and mental health of older primiparas and to strengthen marital relationships, by employing an intervention group and a control group. With respect to the evaluation results, there was a significant decrease in the EPDS scores for wives in the intervention group over the course of the postpartum period. However, there was no significant difference in the QMI scores for marital relationship satisfaction and the ‘wife's mental support’ subscale. However, participating in the pregnancy programme significantly increased husbands' awareness of their wives' physical burdens 1 month after childbirth. Additionally, the ‘housework support’ subscale 3 months after childbirth did not decline. It was suggested that this programme could possibly strengthen the marital relationship because the husband's enhanced understanding of the physical burden of the wife after childbirth leads to an improvement in the wife's satisfaction with the husband's support with housework.