Stress and health promotion behaviors of primigravida and multigravida

Abstract

This descriptive research aimed to study stress levels, health-promoting behaviors; and compare stress with health-promoting behaviors of primigravida and multigravida. The sample consisted of 88 primigravida and 87 multigravida, who came for antenatal care at the Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital, Mueang Udon Thani District, from September 2022 to April 2023. Research instruments included 1) the stress assessment form of the Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health; which was a 4-level scale, ranging from never to regularly, and ranged stress into four levels from mild to severe stress. 2) The health-promoting behaviors assessment form for six aspects according to Pender’s Framework; which was 5-level scale, ranging from never to regularly, dividing health-promoting behaviors into three levels: good, moderate, and poor. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of the stress assessment form and the health-promoting behavior assessment form were .98 and .95, respectively. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and comparative analysis was carried out using t-tests.

The results found that most of the primigravida had moderate levels of stress, followed by high levels, and low levels (53.4%, 31.8%, and 12.5%, respectively). Most of the multigravida had moderate levels of stress, followed by high levels, and severe levels (46.0%, 42.5%, and 8.1%, respectively). Most of the primigravida had good levels of overall health-promoting behaviors, followed by moderate levels, and poor levels (48.9%, 42.0%, and 9.1%, respectively). Most of the multigravida had overall health-promoting behaviors at moderate levels, followed by good levels, and poor levels (47.1%, 36.8%, and 16.1%, respectively). Regarding the health-promoting behaviors in each aspect, both groups were mostly at good levels, followed by moderate levels. The average stress of the multigravida was statistically significantly higher than that of the primigravida (p< .05, 95% CI -7.831, -.356). The averages of overall health-promoting behaviors and each aspect were slightly higher in primigravida than multigravida, however the differences were not statistically significant. It can be concluded that the multigravida was more stressful than the primigravida. The proportion of pregnant women with high to severe levels of stress in both groups was quite high. In addition, more than half of both groups had moderate to poor levels of health-promoting behaviors. Therefore, stress and health-promoting behaviors should be screened every antenatal care clinic visit of both groups. Abnormal cases should be provided with care, assistance; and referred for further appropriate care.