Pregnant Women's perceived internal control of pregnancy outcomes and its related factors

Considering the importance of the beliefs and perception of women about affecting pregnancy outcome، determining p regnant women''s perceived internal control of pregnancy outcomes and their related factors seems to be necessary. The present study was done to determine Zanjani pregnant women''s perceived internal control regarding the outcomes of pregnancy. In this descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study، internal control of 361 pregnant women was investigated using convenience sampling. Data collection was done by means of a questionnaire covering demographic status، folic acid use and questions regarding internal control. Reliability of the questionnaire was approved through Keronbach α coefficient (0. 75). The gathered data was analysed at the significant level P<0. 5 using SPSS software، one-way variance analysis test، T test، Pearson''s coefficient test، logistic regression، and frequency distribution table. The least acceptable point for internal control was taken 20. Less than half of pregnant women (14. 3%) had high internal control. Having adverse pregnancy outcome، taking of and having knowledge about folic acid، parity، type of job، and education level of mothers had a significant relationship with mean of internal control. There was a positive correlation between internal control and knowledge about folic acid (P=0. 002، r=0. 30); nevertheless، it was negative with parity (P=0. 0001، r=0. 20). Logistic regression multivariable analysis revealed that there was a significant relationship between education and knowledge about folic acid with internal control. Regarding that the majority of pregnant women had a low internal control influenced by demographic factors such as education، planning to improve internal control of women before and during pregnancy through instructional programmes-especially with respect to illiterate women- is necessary.