Unmasking a Hidden Threat: Prenatal Stress and its Link to Maternal and Fetal Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background: Physical discomforts and other changes in everyday life can cause stress during pregnancy. Some types of stress may cause serious health problems, like high blood pressure, and lead to problems like preterm birth. Objective: To determine the frequency of maternal stress during pregnancy in urban population. To find out the relationship of stress with maternal and fetal outcomes. Study type, settings & duration: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Tertiary Care Hospital of Rawalpindi from April to December 2021. Methodology: The 324 pregnant women were included in the study who visited a tertiary care hospital of Rawalpindi. Data was collected using consecutive sampling, 1st contact at Gestational age ≥ 24 weeks and same participants were followed up on 2nd contact after maternity (within few hrs-4 days) The maternal stress was measured through modified Urdu version of 30 items A-Z Stress Scale. Three groups of women were identified on basis of exposure. Internal comparisons were made. 5 maternal parameters & 3 neonatal outcomes were assessed. Maternal and Fetal outcome data was obtained from hospital record. risk ratios (95% CI) were calculated using SPSS version 26. Results: Results showed significant relationship between stressors and maternal outcomes such as Pregnancy induced hypertension (p =0.000, OR 4.150 95% CI 1.815 – 9.491), C-Section (p =0.008, OR 1.95095% CI 1.201 – 3.164) and Postpartum Hemorrhage (p =0.025, OR 3.376 95% CI 1.151 – 9.899). Furthermore, the study showed no significant relationship between maternal stress and fetal outcomes among newborns except ..............

Keywords

• Foetal outcomes
• maternal outcomes
• maternal stress