The Relationship between Spousal Support and Health Behaviors of Pregnant Women in Turkey

Background & aim: Gaining health behaviors suitable for women during pregnancy is important for the pregnant woman to complete it in a healthy way.This study was carried out to examine the relationship between spousal support and health behaviors of women during pregnancy.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on ۲۳۰ pregnant women who attended a hospital in Adıyaman province, Turkey for routine care between ۲۰۱۹ and ۲۰۲۰ and were selected by random sampling method. A demographic questionnaire, Spousal Support Scale (SSS), and Health Practices in Pregnancy Questionnaire-II (HPQ-II) were used as data collection tools, which were completed through structured interviews. The Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson Correlation, and Logistic Regression analysis were used to analyze the data.Results: In terms of scale overall scores, pregnant women took ۷۳.۸۴±۱۱.۲۲ and ۱۲۱.۴۲±۱۳.۳۷ from SSS and HPQ-II, respectively, besides, a moderately significant positive correlation was found between the overall scores of the two scales (r=۰.۵۷۷, p= <۰.۰۰۱). As a result of Logistic Regression Analysis, pregnant woman’s age (OR:۰.۰۵۰), years of education (OR:۰.۱۰۲), spouse’s years of education (OR:۰.۰۸۱), marriage duration, number of pregnancies (OR:۰.۱۱۶), previous live births (OR:۰.۱۵۷), and prior miscarriage (OR:۰.۰۲۵) were found to be important risk factors for health behavior.Conclusion: Spousal support during pregnancy is related to health behaviors and women with more spousal support exhibit high-quality health behaviors. Therefore, it is recommended that women during pregnancy be questioned about their spousal support and to be counseled in this regard to experience a safe pregnancy.

Keywords:

Behaviors , health , pregnancy , Spousal , Support