The goal of this clinical trial is to prevent postpartum depression in pregnant women. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Does the Psychological Empowerment program prevent postpartum depression at 6 weeks after delivery?
2. Does the Psychological Empowerment program improve self-control of the postpartum women at 6 weeks after delivery?
3. Does the Psychological Empowerment program improve the self-efficacy of postpartum women at 6 weeks after delivery?
4. Does the Psychological Empowerment program provide a tendency to have adaptive coping strategies in women 6 weeks after delivery?

Researchers will compare the intervention group to a control group with no intervention (routine care) to see if the psychological empowerment program can prevent postpartum depression at 6 weeks after delivery.

Participants in the intervention group will :

• receive 5 sessions in 3 weeks ( 2 sessions per week)
• get follow-up at 2 weeks and 6 weeks after delivery

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common mental health problem that affects women during pregnancy and after childbirth. Women with postpartum depression may experience persistent sadness, anxiety, stress, low self-confidence, sleep disturbances, difficulty bonding with their baby, and emotional distress that can interfere with daily functioning and family relationships. In Indonesia, the prevalence of postpartum depression remains high, while preventive mental health services for pregnant women are still limited. Maternal care services primarily focus on physical health, with minimal attention given to psychological preparation and emotional well-being during pregnancy.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Psychological Empowerment Program in preventing postpartum depression among pregnant women in Indonesia. The program is based on Zimmerman's Psychological Empowerment Theory and is designed to strengthen women's perceived control, self-efficacy, coping behaviour during pregnancy and the transition to motherhood.

This research will use a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. Eligible pregnant women in their third trimester, together with their partners, will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Participants in the intervention group will receive the Psychological Empowerment Program in addition to routine antenatal care, while participants in the control group will receive standard antenatal and postnatal care only.

The intervention consists of structured weekly sessions delivered through interactive discussions, guided activities, emotional coping exercises, communication training, problem-solving activities, and empowerment-focused education. Topics include understanding emotional changes during pregnancy, increasing self-confidence in motherhood, improving coping strategies,, and building practical parenting skills. Sessions will be facilitated by trained healthcare professionals, including midwives, psychologists, and mental health nurses. (facilitator training will be conducted before the intervention)

The study will measure depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, perceived control, and coping strategies before the intervention, after completion of the program, and during the postpartum follow-up period. Standardized questionnaires, including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Pearlin Mastery Scale, and Brief COPE Inventory, will be used to evaluate outcomes.

The findings from this study are expected to provide evidence for culturally appropriate and empowerment-based strategies to prevent postpartum depression in Indonesia. The program may contribute to improving maternal mental health services, strengthening family support systems, and promoting healthier outcomes for mothers, infants, and families.

Inclusion Criteria :

• Pregnant women between 30-33 weeks of gestation
• Primiparous
• Age 18 years and above
• Able to read and communicate in the local language
• Living with a partner

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of diagnosed psychiatric illness (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia)
• High-risk pregnancy conditions that require specialized medical care
• Unwilling or unable to commit to the intervention schedule

Participant must be a pregant women who expected first child with a gestational age range of 30-33 weeks

All IPD that underlie results in a publication will be shared. The shared datasets may include participant demographic characteristics, baseline measures, intervention allocation, and outcome data collected at all study time points, including scores on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Pearlin Mastery Scale, and the Brief COPE Inventory. Data will be provided in a de-identified format to protect participant confidentiality.

De-identified individual participant data (IPD) and supporting documentation will be available beginning 6 months after publication of the primary study results and will remain available for 5 years following publication.

Data will be available to qualified researchers who provide a methodologically sound research proposal. Requests will be reviewed by the principal investigator. Data will be shared after approval of a data use agreement designed to protect participant confidentiality.