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Women’s holistic self-care behaviors during pregnancy and associations with psychological well-being: implications for maternal care facilities
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Long Hoang Nguyen, Ly Thi Ninh, Ha Thu Thi Nguyen, Anh Duy Nguyen, Linh Gia Vu, Hao Si Anh Nguyen, Son Hoang Nguyen, Linh Phuong Doan, Thuc Minh Thi Vu, Bach Xuan Tran, Carl A. Latkin, Cyrus S. H. Ho, Roger C. M. Ho
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Background: Self-care behaviors during pregnancy signifcantly impacts mother and children’s health. This study aimed to explore the self-care behaviors and the associations of these behaviors with the psychological well-being of women during pregnancy, as well as the mediating efects of diferent social support with these associations. Methods: A cross-sectional data of 562 pregnant women at Hanoi Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital and Ca Mau Obstetrics & Pediatrics in Vietnam were analyzed. Questions about self-care behaviors, pregnancy characteristics, social support, and psychological well-being were asked. Multivariate regression models were performed. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to test the mediating efects of diferent social support with the association between self-care behaviors and psychological well-being. Findings : Only 13% of pregnant women often or always did physical exercise at least three times a week, and 40% consumed enough fber and fve servings of vegetables a day. Only 78.7% always avoided alcohol drinking, and 53.9% of pregnant women avoided being exposed to second-hand smoking and 71,7% avoided using traditional medicine without physicians’ prescriptions. Around 66% of pregnant women always or often had prenatal care checkups as scheduled. Information sources, social support and childbirth expectation were major drivers for self-care practices. SEM model showed that social support mediated the relationship between maternal health behaviors and mental well-being. Conclusion: This study highlighted the remarkable gaps in self-care practices among our pregnant women, which were signifcantly associated with their mental well-being. Social support-oriented consultancy and interventions should be warranted for improving behaviors and the mental well-being of pregnant women in Vietnam. Keywords: Maternal behavior, Psychological well-being, Social support, Pregnant women, Structural equation modeling
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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
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