Ziba Taghizadeh1, Mohammad Ali Cheraghi2, Anoshirvan Kazemnejad3, Jalal Pooralajal4, Soodabeh Aghababaei5. 1. Assistant Professor, Tehran Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Associate Professor, Tehran Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. 4. Associate Professor, Modeling of Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. 5. PhD Candidate of Reproductive Health, Department of Reproductive Health, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Various health risks and complications may happen during pregnancy for both the mother and her child. Women should be informed of the risk associated with their pregnancy. AIM: To compare the differences of perception of pregnancy risk of two maternal age groups of healthy nulliparous women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an analytical, descriptive cross-sectional study, 240 nulliparous pregnant women (160 women aged 18 to 35 years as a normal age group and 80 women < 18 years as a high risk age group) were randomly selected. Women were asked to complete questionnaire which included sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy history, perception of pregnancy risk and pregnancy related anxiety. RESULTS: Overall, women of < 18 years (high-risk group) perceived the risks of pregnancy higher than those of 18-35 years age women (reference group). Women in high-risk group rated their risks for herself, having haemorrhaging, having a cesarean birth and dying during pregnancy to be significantly higher than reference group. There was a statistically significant relationship between maternal age and perception of pregnancy risk (p<0.003). There was also a statistically significant relationship between pregnancy related anxiety and perception of pregnancy risk (p<0.002). CONCLUSION: Women's perception of pregnancy risk is different in various maternal age groups. Maternal age can be considered as one of the important factors affecting perception of pregnancy risk. By routine screening of perception of pregnancy risk during prenatal care more effective risk consulting model could be designed.
INTRODUCTION: Various health risks and complications may happen during pregnancy for both the mother and her child. Women should be informed of the risk associated with their pregnancy. AIM: To compare the differences of perception of pregnancy risk of two maternal age groups of healthy nulliparous women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an analytical, descriptive cross-sectional study, 240 nulliparous pregnant women (160 women aged 18 to 35 years as a normal age group and 80 women < 18 years as a high risk age group) were randomly selected. Women were asked to complete questionnaire which included sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy history, perception of pregnancy risk and pregnancy related anxiety. RESULTS: Overall, women of < 18 years (high-risk group) perceived the risks of pregnancy higher than those of 18-35 years age women (reference group). Women in high-risk group rated their risks for herself, having haemorrhaging, having a cesarean birth and dying during pregnancy to be significantly higher than reference group. There was a statistically significant relationship between maternal age and perception of pregnancy risk (p<0.003). There was also a statistically significant relationship between pregnancy related anxiety and perception of pregnancy risk (p<0.002). CONCLUSION:Women's perception of pregnancy risk is different in various maternal age groups. Maternal age can be considered as one of the important factors affecting perception of pregnancy risk. By routine screening of perception of pregnancy risk during prenatal care more effective risk consulting model could be designed.
Authors: Laura Whitehill; Joan Smith; Graham Colditz; Tiffany Le; Polly Kellner; Roberta Pineda Journal: Early Hum Dev Date: 2021-10-14 Impact factor: 2.079