Abstract:

This study aimed to determine dyadic adjustment and affecting factors during pregnancy. The study is of cross-sectional, analytic type. The sample included 152 voluntary pregnant women registered in Family Health Center No.1 in Efeler, Aydın. Self-reported data were collected via a Questionnaire and Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) by visiting the pregnant women at their homes, and evaluated by Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney-U tests and multiple regression analysis. A p<0.05 was considered as significant. The mean age and average length of marriage of women was 28.28±5.52 and 5.49±5.16 years, respectively. Most attendants (71.7%) were housewives and 44.1% primary school graduates. Mean pregnancy duration was 22.35-±8.31 weeks, and 93.4% received antenatal care. 80% of women have got support from their spouses and got spiritual support (51%), and received support was found good by 57.7%. Women thought that pregnancy affects marriage (42.8%), peer relationships (52%) and spouse’s approach (42.8%) negatively. Sample’s mean DAS score was 96.35±2.16, and does not differ according trimesters. Marriage/partner compliance was predicted at a rate of 72.9% by family type, marriage type, obtaining information during pregnancy, spouse’s attendance at antenatal care, health problems during pregnancy, spousal support, relationship with husband, status of marriage, and effect of pregnancy on marriage (p<0.001). Among those, husbands’ attendance at antenatal care and pregnancy’s effect on marriage affected adjustment positively, all others affected negatively. Couple’s adjustment was most affected by “status of marriage”, and least affected by “family type (p<0.05). As a result, marital harmonies of pregnant women were medium, and were affected by a variety of factors, particularly marriage, dyadic relationship and pregnancy. Comprehensive evaluation of pregnant women in terms of these factors and making plans to increase spousal harmony, as well as ensuring spouse participation in prenatal care and pregnant class training will contribute to the delivery of qualified antenatal care services.

Keywords: