Worries among pregnant Danish women with chronic medical conditions – A cross sectional study with data from the Copenhagen pregnancy cohort

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

Objective: Pregnancy is a time of uncertainty and worries are common. Pregnant women with somatic chronic medical conditions (SCMC) are at higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and perinatal mental illness than women without SCMC. We aimed to describe the degree and content of worries in early pregnancy among Danish women with SCMC compared with women without SCMC. Study design: We conducted a cross-sectional study with self-reported questionnaires answered by 28,794 women from 2012─2019 during 1st trimester at a large university hospital in Denmark. Main outcome measures: We used the Cambridge Worry Scale (CWS). The outcomes of interest were the prevalence of major worry at item level (n/%) and the total CWS score (mean/SEM) as expression of the degree and content of worries. Univariate and multivariable regression analysis were performed. Results: Women with SCMC reported a significantly higher total CWS score (aMD 1.50, 95% CI: 1.20–1.80). Women with SCMC were significantly more likely to report major worry in relation to own health (aOR 2.72, 95% CI: 2.43–3.08), the baby's health (aOR 1.40 95% CI 1.31–1.52), the process of giving birth (aOR 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04–1.21), the possibility of preterm labor (aOR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.28–1.63), and miscarriage (aOR 1.34, 95% CI: 1.24–1.43). Conclusion: Women with SCMC reported higher overall degree of worry during early pregnancy and an increased risk of major worry in relation to own health, pregnancy complications and giving birth. In antenatal care, these worries should be addressed by clinicians.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummer100623
TidsskriftSexual and Reproductive Healthcare
Vol/bind29
ISSN1877-5756
DOI
StatusUdgivet - sep. 2021

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
This work was funded by The Research Council of Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Ph.D. Grant reference number: E-22316–04 and the Danish Association of Midwives research grant. The funding sources were not involved in the study design, data collection, interpretation and analysis of data, nor the decision to publish the findings.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier B.V.

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