COMPARATIVE STUDY TO ASSESS THE STRESS AMONG WORKING AND NON-WORKING ANTENATAL MOTHERS IN SELECTED HOSPITALS OF UDUPI DISTRICT

A comparative study was conducted to assess the stress among working and non-working antenatal mothers in order to develop an information leaflet on antenatal stress management. Materials & Methods : Descriptive survey study was conducted among working and non-working (30 each) antenatal mothers between the age group of 18-40 years in three local hospitals of Udupi district. The stress was assessed using stress assessment scale and selected a purposive sampling technique. Results : Data shows majority (47%) of the non-working antenatal mothers were in the age group of 18-25 years, 63% of them were primiparous mothers, among these (53%) were between 29-40 weeks of gestation. Most of the working (67%) participated were in the age group of 26-32 years, majority (73%) of them were moderate workers and primipara mothers, 57% of them were between 29-40 weeks of gestation. Stress assessment scale was used to assess the stress, 63% of working antenatal mothers sometimes felt that they had lack of strength, 67% of working and 50% of non-working antenatal mothers sometimes complaining of not getting adequate sleep at night, 50% of working antenatal mothers sometimes felt that they were lacking in socialization due to pregnancy. The t value showed that (p=0.007) there was significant difference between working and non working antenatal mothers stress score. Conclusion: Since all antenatal mothers participated in this study had mild stress and there was significant difference among working and non-working antenatal mothers stress score. The researchers concluded that antenatal mothers are at more risk of developing stress during pregnancy.