Hospitalisation in high-risk pregnancy patients: is prenatal attachment affected?

ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare prenatal attachment in women hospitalised due to high-risk pregnancy with prenatal attachment in non-hospitalised patients. To describe the impact of social support, socio-demographic factors and the nature of the pregnancy on prenatal attachment, anxiety and depression.

Study Design: An exploratory, cross-sectional and descriptive study utilising the Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The sample comprised 80 hospitalised and 88 non-hospitalised patients.

Result: No difference in prenatal attachment was found between the two groups. The hospitalised group presented higher levels of depressive symptomatology and anxiety. Social support had a significant effect on the hospitalised group, improving attachment quality.

Conclusion: Incorporation of members of the patient’s support network may help to improve quality of prenatal attachment during hospitalisation. Detection and treatment of anxiety and/or depression in hospitalised patients is recommended given their impact on the mental health of mother and baby.

KEYWORDS:

• Prenatal attachment
• high-risk pregnancy
• perinatal mental health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.