ASSESSMENT OF MATERNAL STRESS DURING PREGNANCY

Abstract

Background: The maternal stress refers to the amount of hardship that a woman faces during a period of stress. It also refers to a woman’s personal reaction to the stressor and can be measured by assessing her emotions and feelings at the time that she was exposed to the stressful event. This maternal stress during pregnancy increases the risk of the child having a range of altered neuro developmental outcomes, the emotions and experiences of a pregnant woman impinge on her developing fetus. The investigator had a view to focus this aspect to identify and analyze the level of stress among the pregnant mothers. Objectives: To identify the prevalence of women with stress during pregnancy, to correlate the life stress factors and emotional stress factors associated with pregnancy, to associate the demographic variables with the life and emotional stress factors, to prepare a module to reduce stress and motivate for healthier and happier maternal period. Methods: It is a descriptive study, questionnaire survey approach had been used. Pregnant mothers at all trimesters, either first, second, third and above. A sample of 150 pregnant mothers were recruited for this study by convenient sampling technique. Findings: The Mean and Standard deviation of Life stress and Emotional symptoms were 9.52, 4.63 and 11.22, 4.36 respectively. The Mean and Standard deviation of total Life stress and Emotional symptoms showed 20.27, 8.20 respectively. There was a positive correlation between Life stress and Emotional symptoms and was statistically significant at p < 0.01. Conclusion: In our modern world this maternal stress can be maladaptive, and cause problems for the child and their family. Hence the maternal stress should be concentrated for the pregnant mother to overcome or reduce to have a healthy pregnant period, healthy baby with a healthy fetal development.