The Relationship between Psychological Factors with The Incidence of Preeclampsia in Pregnant Women

Background and Aim: Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that is one of the leading causes of maternal and neonatal mortality. Several risk factors have been stated for this complication, and the World Health Organization has drawn attention to psycho-social conditions. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the relationship between psychological and social factors with the incidence of preeclampsia in pregnant women. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted as a case-control study on pregnant women who referred to the women's single specialty hospital in Ilam city in 1399. The research samples included a group of women with preeclampsia (53 people) and a control group (53 people). People were selected according to the study's inclusion criteria. The data of the study was collected using three demographic and midwifery information questionnaires, perceived stress and social support questionnaires, and then the data were entered into SPSS version 17 software and analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistical tests. Results: According to the results of the study, there was a significant difference between the amount of perceived stress and social support in the two groups; Persons with preeclampsia had more stress and less social support. According to the logistic regression test, for each unit increase in stress in pregnant women, the probability of preeclampsia increases by 0.23%, and for each unit increase in social support in pregnant women, the probability of preeclampsia decreases by 0.53%. Conclusion: People with preeclampsia had more stress and less social support; therefore, examining psychological aspects as a risk factor in this disorder is necessary. Also, more efforts are needed by health and treatment personnel for prevention, screening, blood pressure management, and reduction of psychological and social stress among pregnant women.