Maryam Harif Nashtifani - MSc Student in Midwifery Counseling, Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mahin Tafazolim - Assistant Professor, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Centre, Mashhad University of Medical sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Saeed Vaghee - Assistant Professor, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Centre, Mashhad University of Medical sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Amin Allah Zarei - MSc in Environmental Health, Health Sciences Research Center Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
Azam Salarhaji - PhD Student in Nursing, Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Background & aim: One of the major problems related to maternal and neonatal health in adolescent pregnant mothers is the low level of pregnancy empowerment. It seems that using cognitive-behavioral counseling approaches can help women to further strengthen their empowerment. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cognitive-behavioral counseling on empowerment of pregnant women under ۱۸ years old.Methods: This randomized controlled trial was performed in ۲۰۲۰-۲۰۲۱ on ۶۴ pregnant women aged under ۱۸ years referred to health care centers of Khaf, Iran. Participants were randomly allocated to two groups of intervention (n=۳۲) and control (n=۳۲). In the intervention group, cognitive-behavioral counseling was performed in the groups with seven members during ۶ sessions (two ۱۲۰-minute sessions per week for three weeks). The control group received the routine care. The research tool was Kameda and Shimada Empowerment Scale for Pregnant Women (ESPW). Data were analyzed using SPSS software version ۲۵.Results: In the pre-intervention stage, there was no significant difference between the mean empowerment scores in the two groups of intervention (۷۳.۸۷ ± ۸.۹۵) and control (۷۲.۷۸ ± ۷.۳۶) (P = ۰.۵۹). However, in the post-intervention stage, the mean empowerment score in the intervention group (۸۴.۲۵ ± ۶.۱۳) was significantly higher compared to the control group (۷۴.۴۴ ± ۹.۲۴) (P= ۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral counseling was effective in improving the empowerment of pregnant women under ۱۸ years of age participating in the present study. 

Cognitive-Behavioral Counseling, Adolescent, pregnancy, Empowerment