Perceived social support and pregnancy outcomes in vulnerable women

Abstract

Objective (s): Perceived social support is considered to be an important predictor of health outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived social support and delivery outcomes among pregnant women with low socio-economic status. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran. Through cluster sampling, nine hospitals randomly were selected in five regions of Tehran including north, south, east, west, and city center. A sample of pregnant women with low socio-economic status receiving care was recruited. Data were collected by a validated questionnaire. Results: In all 400 pregnant women were studied. Of these 53.5% percent scored low in perceived social support. There was a significant relationship between perceived social support (p= 0.04) and perceived social support from family (p= 0.03) with gestational age at the time of delivery. Need for NICU care was higher in neonates born to mothers with lower perceived social support score (P = 0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicated that pregnant women with low socioeconomic background received lower social support. In addition prenatal social support was associated with gestational age at the time of delivery and need for NICU care for newborns. Further research is needed to determine the effect of social support on other aspects of maternal and neonatal health.

Keywords

• perceived social support
• vulnerable women
• pregnancy outcome
• low birth weight
• low socio-economic status