Perceived Stress and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Adolescent Came for Antenatal Care in Public Hospitals of South Gondar Zone, Northwest, Ethiopia. Institution based cross-sectional study design 2023

Abstract

Background: Perceived stress during pregnancy is associated with adverse obstetric outcomes especially being adolescent. Adolescents display harmful emotional responses towards pregnancy, presenting higher school dropout rates, social punishment, and segregation. Stress is the most frequently encountered reactions toward an unexpected pregnancy in adolescents. Antenatal perceived stress is still unaware and under-diagnosed during routine antenatal care. However, no adequate studies performed on perceived stress and its risk factors among pregnant adolescent women in developing countries including Ethiopia specifically at the study area. Objective: To assess the prevalence of perceived stress and associated factors among pregnant adolescent came for antenatal care in public hospitals of south Gondar zone, Northwest, Ethiopia, 2023. Materials and Methods: This an institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 03 – May 20, 2023, among 415 pregnant adolescent women attending antenatal care in public hospitals of south Gondar zone. The participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire which included demographic data, obstetric data, serious life event data, and English language version of the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (T-PSS-10) to assess perceived stress symptoms. The data was coded and entered to Epi data 3.1 and was exported to Stata14 for analysis. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were fitted to identify factors associated with perceived stress. In multivariable logistic regression variables with P-value<0.05 with 95% CI were considered independently associated factors for the outcome variable. Results: Of a total 415 pregnant adolescents, theprevalence of perceived stress symptoms in antenatal pregnant adolescent was 18.07% (95% CI; 14.35- 21.78%). Perceived stress symptoms were significantly associated with Partner rejection of pregnancy (AOR= 5.99, 95% CI; 1.44- 24.92), first trimester of pregnancy (AOR= 5.18, 95% CI; 1.37- 19.58), unplanned pregnancy (AOR= 2.14, 95% CI; 1.10– 4.17), multiple roles at home (AOR= 1.90, 95%CI=1.03-3.48), prenatal depression (AOR=2.14, 95%CI=1.08-4.24) and poor social support (AOR=8.33, 95%CI=1.01-68.43). Conclusion: The prevalence of perceived stress among pregnant adolescent was relatively high. Partner acceptance of pregnancy, gestational age, and status of pregnancy, multiple roles at home, depression and social support were associated with perceived stress. This study recommended that all pregnant adolescent women should be screened and treated for perceived stress, particularly during the first trimesters and mothers with depression.