Assessment of Perceived Social Support, Quality of Life and Resilience among Pregnant Women in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Background: Pregnancy causes inevitably significant psychological and physiological impacts on woman. It causes high emotional changes and occasionally mental disturbances. These make pregnancy a period of life that requires woman to have bio-psycho-social adjustments through good social support, quality of life and resilience. Aim: This study was aimed at assessing the Perceived Social Support, Quality of Life and Resilience among pregnant women in northern Nigeria. Methods: The study was descriptive and adopted cross sectional design. Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, short Form (SF-36) Health Survey 1.0 Questionnaire, and Connor-Davidson RS Scale were used for data collection. Respondents were selected using systematic sampling. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26 and Kruskal-wallis test was used for inferential analysis. Results: Majority of the respondents had good and very-good perceived social support (23.1% and 27.2%) respectively. Majority of the respondents (76.6%) had poor quality of life. Majority of the respondents had good and very-good resilience (28.6% and 40.3%) respectively. P<0.001 in perceived social support differences by age, parity, educational level, and family economic status, respectively. P<0.05, P<0.01 and P<0.01 in quality of life differences by age, parity, and family economic status respectively. P<0.05, P<0.01 and P<0.01 in resilience differences by age, parity, and level of education, respectively. Conclusion: Healthcare workers especially midwives should consider pregnant women’s perceived social support, quality of life and resilience when rendering their services. Keywords: Midwives, Pregnancy, Quality of life, Resilience, Social support