PERCEIVED MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SUPPORT DURING PREGNANCY AMONG PRIMIGRAVIDA AND MULTIPARA MOTHERS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Abstract

Pregnant mothers with mental health problems are less likely to care adequately for their personal needs, to seek and receive antenatal or postnatal care, or adhere to prescribed health regimens. Social support inuences health-related behaviors and can play an important role in adaptation to pregnancy. This study aimed to assess and compare the perceived mental health and social support during pregnancy among primigravida and multipara mothers. Materials: This was a ccomparative study. The accessible sample was recruited from pregnant mothers attending OPD at community health centre in Kurali, Punjab. Total 300 pregnant mothers were selected. Out of these, 150 mothers were primigravida and 150 were multipara mothers who met the inclusion criteria. Perceived mental health was assessed using the kessler distress scale (k-10) and perceived social support was assessed by multidimensional scale. Results: Comparing the perceived mental health and social support scores between pregnant mothers in primigravida and multipara group, it was found that multiparas had more psychological distress and less social support as compared to primigravidas. There was a negative statistically signicant correlations observed between perceived mental health and perceived social support of primigravida and multipara mothers (r = -.454 and p= 0.00* and r =-.526 and 0.00*) respectively. Conclusion: The ndings from this study suggested that multipara mothers during pregnancy are vulnerable for mental illness and perceiving scarcity of social support as compared to primigravida mothers. Hence, it was suggested that high social support lowers the risk of mental illness. Therefore, there is a need to conduct various programs by health professionals related to social support with a view to helping reduce mental health problems among pregnant mothers.