The effect of pregnant women's health-seeking behavior and preference for mode of birth on pregnancy distress during the COVID-19 pandemic

AKTAŞ S., AYDIN R., Binici D. K.

HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL, vol.44, no.7-8, pp.986-1001, 2023 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 44 Issue: 7-8
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/07399332.2022.2153844
  • Journal Name: HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Abstracts in Social Gerontology, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, Educational research abstracts (ERA), EMBASE, Gender Studies Database, MEDLINE, PAIS International, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.986-1001
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In this study, the researchers investigated to the impact of pregnant women's health-seeking behavior and mode of birth preferences on pregnancy distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was conducted with 351 pregnant women. The risk rate of pregnancy distress using the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS) cut-off point was 16.5%. 13.3% of pregnant women changed their mode of birth preferences due to the pandemic. The risk of pregnancy distress in women who changed their mode of birth preferences due to the pandemic increased 5.4 times more than in those who preferred vaginal birth before and during the pandemic (OR: 5.4, p<0.001). We determined that the increase in the Health Seeking Behavior Scale total scores had a reducing effect on pregnancy distress due to a lack of partner involvement for TPDS.