The effect of hyperemesis gravidarum on prenatal adaptation and quality of life: a prospective case–control study

Abstract

Aim

The aim of the study was to determine the adaptation status of hyperemesis gravidarum in pregnancy and its effects on quality of life.

Methods

The study was carried out between January and December 2018 in at the gynecology services and obstetrics clinics of a public hospital in Turkey. The study included pregnant women as the case group (n = 150) in their first and second trimesters diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum and pregnant women with healthy pregnancy (n = 150). In order to obtain information pertinent to the participants, a “Personal Information Form” was used, the “Quality of Life (SF36) Form” was used to determine quality of life, and to determine adaption to pregnancy, the “Prenatal Self-Evaluation Scale” was applied. Only the “Acceptance of Pregnancy” and “Acceptance of the Role of the Motherhood” subdimensions were included in the study since the pregnant women in their first and second trimesters participated.

Results

Acceptance of pregnancy (p = .000) and acceptance of the role of motherhood (p = .018) were found to be significantly lower in the pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum in comparison to the healthy pregnant women. The quality of life levels of the pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum were found to be lower than those in the healthy pregnant women (p < .001). According to the correlation analysis that was performed, it was determined that the decrease in the quality of life coincided with the decrease in acceptance of the role of motherhood (p < .001).

Conclusions

Hyperemesis gravidarum adversely affects quality of life. Additionally, hyperemesis gravidarum and low quality of life negatively affect acceptance of pregnancy and the role of motherhood.

Keywords:

• Hyperemesis gravidarum
• quality of life
• acceptance of pregnancy
• acceptance of the role of motherhood; pregnancy

Acknowledgements

The authors express thanks to the pregnant women in the sample for participation in the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no competing interests to declare.