Abstract
BackgroundRisk perception is based on collective indicators, but it is influenced by the individual’s self-perception of his health-disease process. This study aims to investigate the risk perception of pregnant women who were identified as high-risk for premature birth and to seek strategies for better management of such cases.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study where women who had completed their participation in P5 trial were contacted and invited to answer a structured questionnaire with open questions. Data were collected by telephone and analyzed using thematic analysis. The analysis categories were defined, and all the answers were reviewed, categorized, grouped, and a descriptive summary was prepared.ResultsTwo hundred eight Brazilian women have participated. Three categories were identified: (1) Risk perception mediated by health professionals; (2) Self-perception of risk through personal experiences and relationships; (3) Perception of treatment success. After receiving an explanation from a health professional about short cervix and premature birth, women understood the risk of premature delivery, recognizing the importance of early diagnosis to prevent premature birth. Unsuccessful previous experiences in prior pregnancies influenced women’s risk perception. Patients believed in the success of the treatment performed, placing their hopes on the treatment even without research guarantees about benefits.ConclusionsPregnant women’s risk perception regarding prematurity is based partly on personal and family experiences but mainly on information given by health professionals. The risk perception about preterm birth may contribute to healthy pregnancy, guiding necessary interventions and preventing adverse outcomes. Prevention studies on prematurity should thus focus on neonatal outcomes.
Highlights
Risk perception is based on collective indicators, but it is influenced by the individual’s self-perception of his health-disease process
We developed a cross-sectional study based on the qualitative analysis of two open questions used to identify the risk perception of preterm birth with pregnant women who participated in a clinical trial entitled “A randomized controlled trial on the use of pessary plus progesterone to prevent preterm birth in women with short cervical length (P5 trial)” (Trial registration RBR3t8prz) [7]
Risk perception mediated by health professionals Overall, after a health professional provided a clear and detailed explanation about the diagnosis of a short cervix, the participants understood both the information given and the preterm birth risk factor
Summary
Risk perception is based on collective indicators, but it is influenced by the individual’s self-perception of his health-disease process. This study aims to investigate the risk perception of pregnant women who were identified as high-risk for premature birth and to seek strategies for better management of such cases. The development of risk perception is influenced by the individual’s self-perception of the health-disease process [1], which is characterized by the association with personal factors related to cognitive capacity, affective and biological aspects, and an ability to read and interact with the. A patient’s risk perception of health guides decisions, Silva et al BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (2021) 21:633 openness to the proposed treatment and the results achieved. A patient’s self-perception of risk can further influence decisions. In turn, is one of the most important potential risks faced during pregnancy. Prematurity is the main cause of infant morbimortality, and it places a significant economic burden on the family and healthcare system due to the newborn’s need for higher levels of complexity in the provision of healthcare [5]
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