Coping Strategies after Involuntary Pregnancy Loss

Abstract

Involuntary Pregnancy loss results in a psychological conflict. Study of factors that influence women and assist them to adapt and face this stressful conflict have been undertaken. Within this paradigm, coping strategies have emerged as major compensatory factors that serve to maintain health or to pinpoint early break. Objective: This study was carried out to determine the different coping strategies used by mothers who had recently pregnancy loss. This study comprised 100 mothers who gave birth to a full term baby as a control group. The tool of the study was Arabic version of Modified Jalowiec Coping Scale questionnaire A structured interview schedule was used to elicit the information needed for the study. The results of the study revealed that participants in the study group demonstrated more affective coping than those in the control group [81.9±35.2, 71.2% vs. 74.2±28.0, 64.5%, respectively, p < 0.01]. The most significant patterns were withdrawal [52.2±10, 72% vs. 22.3±9.6, 63.7%, respectively, p=0.038], fantasy [13.8±5.2, 69% vs. 12.7±4.7, 63.5%, p=0.01] and fate [22.7±8.6, 75.7% vs. 20.3±7.7, 67.7%, respectively, p=0.039]. Younger participants demonstrated higher affective-oriented coping than older ones, while older participants showed significantly higher problem-oriented coping [29.5±10.4 vs. 25.0±8.5, respectively, p=0.025]. As regards timing of pregnancy loss, participants who sustained early pregnancy loss demonstrated higher effective-oriented coping than those who had late pregnancy loss. On the other hand, those who had late pregnancy loss showed significantly higher problem oriented coping [030.0±9.9 vs. 24.6±8.1, respectively, p=0.003]. Conclusions: Affective-oriented coping strategy intensifies among mothers who sustain pregnancy loss. The most common patterns of affective strategy are withdrawal, fantasy, and fate. Problem-oriented coping does not change among mothers with involuntary pregnant loss. Recommendations: Improve the coping mechanisms of mothers who sustained pregnancy loss by providing counseling, support, information, critical analysis, and alternative problem-solving strategies.