EXPOSURE TO ADVERSE LIFE EVENTS AN ANTECEDENT OF STRESS AMONGST PREGNANT WOMEN: A CASE CONTROL STUDY FROM KERALA

Abstract

Abstract

                 Stress amongst antenatal women is a significant determinant of adverse  pregnancy outcomes of mother and fetus. Research evidences regarding the associated  factors of  high antenatal stress throw lights on measures permissible to promote psychological status of women  during pregnancy and  favours downsizing of  adverse  pregnancy  outcomes. Objective of the study was to identify the association between negative life events and antenatal stress amongst women attending the antenatal clinics of selected hospitals at Thiruvananthapuram district of  Kerala.  A Case control design was used for the study.  The tools used for data collection were Antenatal Psychosocial Stress Scale and Presumptive Stressful Life Events inventory. The study was conducted in selected government hospitals at Thiruvananthapuram district of  Kerala.  Sample consisted of women at the gestational age of 20-24 weeks attending the antenatal clinics. Sample size was 700. Findings of the study show that stress during pregnancy is significantly associated  with occurrence of negative  life events in the past one year (χ² = 11.01 p = 0.00, OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.31 - 2.95). Probability to have high stress is 1.97 times higher among antenatal women with exposure to adverse life events in past one year than women who have not exposed to such  life events. Findings of the study throw light on the necessity of screening all antenatal  women for adverse life events. They should be provided with appropriate support to alleviate the occurrence of negative pregnancy outcomes.

Key Words: Pregnancy, antenatal stress, life events