Worries and Concerns of Diabetic Pregnant Women

Abd El-Mgeed, Sanaa H.; Abd El-Kawy, Essamt M.; El-Erafaey, Aleya M.

doi:10.21608/jhiph.2005.174173

Worries and Concerns of Diabetic Pregnant Women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt

² Lecturer of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Egypt

³ Lecturer of Maternity and Gynecology, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Egypt

10.21608/jhiph.2005.174173

Abstract

Women may experience a variety of worries and concerns in associations with pregnancy. Pregnancy in diabetic women makes these worries and concerns endless and intensified. Gathering information about those worries and concerns during pregnancy is required to contribute to the provision of adequate and effectiveness of psychological care that might help in coping more effectively with pregnancy time for diabetic women. This study is concerned with identifying worries and concerns of diabetic pregnant women and assessing their feelings. It was conducted at the outpatient obstetrics clinics of three hospitals namely El-Mainshawy Health Insurance Hospital, Mahala General Hospital, and El-Aiada El-Shamela in Tanta. The target population of this study consisted of 400 pregnant women. Among the subjects, 200 were diabetic and 200 non-diabetic pregnant women as a control group. Data were collected through three tools: structured worries and concerns questionnaire, feelings word checklist, and Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale.
The results of this study yielded that diabetic pregnant women expressed significantly higher negative emotions [fear, anxiety, angry, and sadness] and mixed [happiness and sadness] than non-diabetic [ꭓ²=52.370 and 14.148, respectively]. Non-diabetic women had significant higher free anxiety level score than diabetic [ꭓ²=28.711]. Among diabetic women, 33% had severe anxiety level. Concern for baby was the highest worry rated by diabetic women [93%] as compared to 43.5% of non-diabetic women. All diabetic women [100%] were concerned by fear of baby might have diabetes, increase dose of medication, and caesarean section. Applying pregnancy counseling involving all issues specific to the diabetic patient when planning for pregnancy was the main recommendation from this study.

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