Relationship between perceived social support and stress before and after cesarean in pregnant women

Most pregnant women experience a degree of stress before and after cesarean. Stress can have unfavorable complications for the mother and the baby. Given the probable relationship of social support with the amount of stress, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between perceived social support and stress, before and after cesarean in pregnant women referring to Besat Hospital in Sanandaj in 2018.

This study was a descriptive-correlational and cross-sectional study performed on 180 pregnant women under selective cesarean section surgery in 2018. Using the available sampling method, pregnant women referring to Besat Hospital in Sanandaj were selected with the criteria to enter the study. The data collection method in this study was a two-part questionnaire of demographic and midwifery information, perceived social support questionnaire and Dass 21 stress questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 16, descriptive statistics, and the Pearson correlation test.

Results indicated that the degree of the overall rate of stress, before cesarean was 36.1% and in the post operation stage 13.9% respectively. Besides, there was a negative significant difference between social support and stress, before the operation (p<0.05, r= -0.728), and stress, after cesarean (P<0.05, r= -0.658).

The results of the study showed that there is a negative and significant relationship between perceived social support and stress, before and after the cesarean section. Hence, it is recommended that interventions be designed to identify and improve the level of social support of pregnant women under cesarean section.