ASSESSMENT OF ANTENATAL PERCEIVED STRESS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN AVAILING ANTENATAL CARE AT URBAN HEALTH TRAINING CENTRE IN CENTRAL INDIA: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY.

Abstract

Background: Antenatal stress may have adverse health effects on mothers and their offspring. Perceived stress is the feelings or thoughts that an individual has about how much stress they under at a given point in time or over a given time period. Aim and Objectives: To assess the antenatal perceived stress among pregnant women availing antenatal care using Perceived Stress Scale. To study the sociodemographic characteristics of study population. To suggest recommendations based on study ndings. Materials and Methods:Across sectional study will be conducted among 270 antenatal women who are attending antenatal OPD of the Urban Health Training Centre in Central India. Data was collected using predesigned questionnaire scheduled after obtaining informed consent. Antenatal Perceived Stress assessed by Perceived Stress Scale. Results: Out of total 270 women, 243 (90%) were diagnosed with stress using PSS score >14 in the study. The mean age of women was 28.15 years. There is no any signicant association found between sociodemographic variables except socioeconomic class as well as no association between marital factors and perceived stress. No signicant association between obstetric factors and perceived stress. Conclusion: This research concluded that stress detection and timely counselling along with mental and physical support will mitigate stress and postpartum depression