A Comparative Study to Assess the Perceived Stress of Mothers who have Undergone Caesarean Section and Normal Delivery at St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bangalore

Abstract

Background: Child birth is a universally celebrated event, an occasion for dancing, fireworks flowers and gifts. It is a joyous event, at the same time it is a time of pain, fear and stress. Every woman feels that being a mother is the most gifted position, through her life time. Pregnancy is a crisis in the human life and it is an important turning point of anatomical physiological and psychological changes in women`s life. Stress is a part of human life, and we are never completely free from it. All women in labour, experience varieties of stress irrespective of their mode of delivery. Emergency caesarean section may cause more emotional stress to the women than normal delivery. Primi gravida mothers are more likely to face emotional stress, because it cause the beginning of major life change to the women. Even for the most recognized mothers, pain reduce the ability to cope and may make her short tempered and quick to criticize things around her. Researchers found that, certain variables can influence labour stress, such as nalliparity, low level of formal education, absence of antenatal education and unexpected pregnancy. Thus it reveals that all women in labour, experience stress. Finding from review of literature, personal experiences of the investigator and discussion with experts have motivated the investigator to take up a study to compare the perceived stress of mothers who have undergone caesarean section and normal delivery. Objectives of the study: • To assess the perceived stress of mothers who have undergone caesarean section and normal delivery. • To compare the perceived stress of mothers who have undergone caesarean section with normal delivery. • To determine the relationship between perceived stresses of mothers who have undergone caesarean section and selected base line variables. • To determine the relationship between the perceived stress of mothers with normal delivery and selected base line variables. Methods: The research design selected for the study was comparative descriptive research. The setting selected was Obstetric ward of SJMCH, Bangalore. The 100 mothers who have undergone caesarean section (50) and normal delivery (50) at SJMCH, within 24- 48 hours of child birth were selected for the study by purposive sampling technique. Modified “Perceived Stress Scale” was used to assess the perceived stress of mothers with caesarean section and normal delivery. The data was analyzed in terms of objectives of the study using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The findings of the study show that mothers with LSCS experienced more stress than mothers with vaginal delivery with a total mean score of 118.06±19.91 and 108.8±19.17 respectively and it shows, significant difference between stress among mothers with LSCS and FTND at P<0.05 level of significance. Mothers with caesarean section experienced more emotional stress with mean score of 64.86 than the mothers with normal delivery with the mean score of 56.4. The mean score of physical stress of mothers with LSCS is 40.98 and mothers with FTND is 42.28. The mothers with LSCS and FTND had experienced financial stress with the mean score of 12.22 and 10.12 respectively. There is a significant difference in financial stress of mothers with caesarean section and normal delivery, at P < .05(0.033) level of significances and emotional stress at P =.001 level. Conclusion: The finding of the study clearly point out that the perceived stress level among mothers with caesarean section and normal delivery differ. Caesarean section mothers experienced more emotional stress and financial stress than mothers with normal delivery. Mothers from both group experienced almost equal amount of physical stress. It reveal that every mother is going through some amount of stress irrespective of mode of delivery and it is our duty to provide maximum support during the labor process.