The Relationship between Adaptation to Pregnancy and Prenatal Attachment in High-Risk Pregnancies

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although pregnancy is a physiological process, there are various changes which need to be adapted to. Adaptation and prenatal attachment are important for both the mother's and baby's health. These situations are more crucial for women with high-risk pregnancy. The study aimed to determine the relationship between adaptation to pregnancy and prenatal attachment among women with high-risk pregnancy, as well as socio-demographic and obstetric parameters which affected this adaptation. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This descriptive and analytic study's data were collected from high-risk pregnant women (n=479) who were receiving treatment at two public hospitals in Turkey using Prenatal Self-Evaluation Form (PSEQ) and Prenatal Attachment Inventory (PAI). Descriptive statistics, correlation and comparative analyses were used in data analyses. RESULTS: It was determined that adaptation to pregnancy was medium and prenatal attachment was high in high-risk pregnant (PSEQ mean score:159.43±27.05; PAI mean score: 63.79±10.75). There was a significant negative relationship between the scales (r=-0.556, p<0.01). This relationship showed that as adaptation to pregnancy increased, prenatal attachment also increased. There was significant difference in the PSEQ by age, educational status, employment status, marital status, year of marriage, spouse's educational and employment status, having health insurance, family type, income status, spouse's attitudes towards pregnancy, number of pregnancies, number of births, having living children, whether the pregnancy was planned, pregnancy week and prenatal attachment. CONCLUSION: According to results, there is relationship between adaptation to pregnancy and prenatal attachment in high-risk pregnancies and some sociodemographic and obstetric factors affects adaptation to pregnancy. Determining these factors can serve as a guide for preventing and reducing additional problems that may be encountered in pregnancy and postpartum period in high-risk pregnant women.