FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE DESIRE TO AVOID A NEW PREGNANCY. A SINGLE CENTER STUDY

Authors

  • Simona Elena LUNCANU Cuza-Vodă” Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Iasi, Romania
  • Lavinia-Maria POP “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Romania
  • Magdalena IORGA “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi

Keywords:

PREGNANCY, THE DESIRE TO AVOID PREGNANCY SCALE, ROMANIA, TEENAGE PREGNANCY, SINGLE MOTHER, SATISFACTION WITH PREGNANCY, PAIN SCALE

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the factors that are related to the women’s desire to avoid a new pregnancy. Material and methods: A total of 197 mothers were questioned about the pregnancy after giving birth, and the study collected data about their sexual-related lives, the satisfaction with their relationship with partners and medical team, peripartum aspects, and their desire to have a new pregnancy in the next period, using the Desire to Avoid Pregnancy Scale (DAP), a psychometric scale. The analysis of the data was done using the SPSS program, version 24. Results: The analysis of the data revealed that women declared that they were mostly satisfied with the relationships they had with their gynecologists (M = 5.46 ± 1.59), the medical care they received from the nurses (M = 5.49 ± 1.43), the hospitalization conditions (M = 6.05 ± 1.26), the hospital food (M = 5.86 ± 1.33), and the provision of medical equipment in the hospital (M = 6.04 ± 1.11). The DAP subscales revealed the following results: Cognitive Desire and Preferences - M = 20.26 ± 3.79; Affective Feelings and Attitudes - M = 10.47 ± 3.56; and Anticipated Practical Consequences - M = 7.93 ± 3.22 for a total DAP score of about M = 37.56 ± 10.75 with scores ranging from 13 (0.6%, N = 1) to 56 (2.3%, N = 4). Married women had a significantly lower score on the DAP scale, both compared to women who lived in cohabitation and compared to those who no longer maintained a relationship with the child’s father. More results were obtained considering the variables age at first sexual contact, level of education, marital status, intended or unintended pregnancy, and satisfaction with medical care during pregnancy. Conclusions: There are a lot of factors that influence the desire of women to avoid a new pregnancy, and ob-gyn doctors and psychologists should take them into consideration when medical care is provided to mothers who have a pregnancy within a short time after giving birth.

Author Biographies

  • Lavinia-Maria POP, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Romania

    Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences

  • Magdalena IORGA, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi

    Faculty of Medicine

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Additional Files

Published

2023-06-30

Issue

Vol. 127 No. 2 (2023): The Medical-Surgical Journal

Section

PREVENTIVE MEDICINE - LABORATORY

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