Perceived Risk in Women with High Risk Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study

Risk perception in high‑risk pregnancies influences the mothers’ adherence to medical treatments and recommendations. Because of the lack of information about the women’s perception of risk, the aim of this study was to explain perception of risk in high‑risk pregnancies. 

This qualitative study was conducted on 25 women with a high‑risk pregnancy in educational hospitals of Mashhad, Iran, from August 2017 to August 2018. Data were collected through semi‑structured interviews and data saturation was reached after 29 interviews. Data collection and analysis were simultaneously carried out using the qualitative content analysis method adopted by Elo and Kyngäs in MAXQDA software.

Data analysis resulted in the four main categories of perception of risk control ability (risk controlling through experience, risk tolerance through relying on a higher power, and risk tolerance to reach family goals), wrong estimation of risk (wrong calculation of possible risks based on wrong beliefs and knowledge, and incorrect risk estimation caused by misunderstanding), possibility of mutual vulnerability of pregnancy and risk condition (possibility of vulnerability of the fetus to risk factors, and possibility of the mother’s vulnerability to risk factors), and induced risk (risk induced by negative experiences, induced threat of unknown pregnancy outcome, and fear of ambiguous medical terms).

The results of this study promoted our understanding of risk perception in women with high‑risk pregnancies. Therefore, it will help to establish a‎ better link between women with a high‑risk pregnancy and the health team, enhance and improve maternal and fetal care.