Relationship between partner support and psychological distress among young women during pregnancy: A mixed-method study from a low- and middle-income country

Abstract

Background: Young pregnant women are at a higher risk of mental disorders globally. Lack of male partner support is a risk factor for psychological distress among adult women during pregnancy. However, little research has been done in India; in particular, none of the studies have concentrated on young pregnant women. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among young women (n = 194) during their second and third trimester of pregnancy from rural Pune, India, in 2017. Logistic regression assessed the association between male partner support and psychological distress. In-depth interviews with pregnant women (n = 10) and health workers (n = 6) were conducted, and thematic analysis was used. Results: The prevalence of distress was 17.01 % (95 % CI 11.7–22.3). Lack of partner support for ensuring care and rest (aOR = 4.09, 95 % CI 1.67–10.00, p= 0.002) and decision- making regarding place of delivery (aOR = 4.20, 95 % CI 1.65–10.66, p = 0.003) was associated with distress, after adjusting for in-law's support, partner's alcohol use and poverty. Findings from a qualitative study showed that lack of partner support in multiple domains, including housework, preference for a male child, and financial support, led to distress. Limitations: The study relied on self-reported data that is subjected to recall bias. Data on established risk factors of distress, including a history of mental disorders among women during pregnancy, was not collected. Conclusions: Antenatal interventions that integrate and promote male partner support in pregnancy care and delivery care decisions and address gender bias can potentially reduce psychological distress among young women in rural Pune, India.

Keywords

• Psychological distress
• Partner support
• Young women
• Antenatal
• Rural India
• Gender