Psychological Experience of Pregnancy among the Antenatal Mothers in A Selected Hospital of Puducherry

Abstract

Background: A mother's psychologically state during pregnancy affects child development. The role of maternal psychological stress in pregnancy remains a focus of academic and research interest, but only few instruments available to measure pregnancy-specific factors to maternal psychological state. Aim: This study was aimed to evaluate maternal appraisal of positive and negative stressors of pregnancy among the antenatal pregnant women. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among antenatal mothers attending antenatal OPD in a selected hospital of Puducherry. The sample size was 30, selected through purposive sampling. The approach used was the quantitative approach and design was a cross-sectional design. Data collected by using a structured questionnaire related to socio-demographic variables and pregnancy experience scale brief version (PES –Brief) for the maternal appraisal of positive and negative stressors of pregnancy Result: This study showed the frequency of hassles (negative stressors) was 8.66 ± 1.24, frequency of uplifts (positive stressors) was 8.43 ± 1.69, the intensity of hassles was 2.15 ± 0.55 and intensity of uplifts was 2.3 ± 0.27 among the antenatal mothers. Hassles to uplift ratio showed the 16 (53.3%) of antenatal mothers have greater than 1 whereas 14(46.7%) have less than 1. An association between the occupation and the hass les to uplifts ratio among the antenatal mothers was observed. Conclusion: A very high frequency of maternal appraisal of negative stressors during pregnancy was observed among the antenatal mothers. This maternal stress could affect pregnancy outcomes and cause future behavioral problems in their children. This study suggests that to include a screening of maternal psychological status and treatment of mental morbidity as a part of routine antenatal care.