Abstract:
The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the severity of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and fear of birth and psychosocial health level. This research, which is a relational-descriptive type was conducted with 659 pregnant women. Data were collected by being used Personal İnformation Form, The Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis and Nausea (PUQE) Test, The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire A Version (W-DEQ-A) and Pregnancy Psychosocial Health Assessment Scale (PPHAS). It was determined that pregnant women with severe nausea and vomiting severity had more fear of child birth than those with mild and moderate nausea and vomiting severity (p < 0.001). It was found that the severity of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) was a factor related to the fear of birth. According to PUQE Test Classification, the difference between the mean scores of “Pregnancy and Family Relationships”, “Domestic Violence” and “Physical and Psychosocial Changes related to Pregnancy” subscales of PPHAS was statistically determined to be significant (p < 0.05).It was determined that those with mild nausea and vomiting had a better psychosocial health level in terms of “pregnancy and spousal relationship” and worse in terms of “domestic violence”. In addition, it was found that the psychosocial health level of pregnant women with severe nausea-vomiting severity was worse in terms of “physical-psychosocial changes related to pregnancy”. It was determined that the increase in anxiety and stress levels and the perception of insufficient psychosocial support are important variables that increase the severity of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. In the evaluation of nausea and vomiting complaints, variables such as fear of birth and psychosocial health level can be taken into consideration to provide a holistic health service to pregnant women. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.