Can gestation be considered as trauma in adolescent girls: post-traumatic stress disorder in teen pregnancy*


SÜRER ADANIR A., ÖNDER A., Bulbul G. A., Uysal A., ÖZATALAY E.

JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, cilt.40, sa.7, ss.936-940, 2020 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 40 Sayı: 7
  • Basım Tarihi: 2020
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/01443615.2019.1673714
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.936-940
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Post-traumatic stress disorder, adolescent girls, teen pregnancy, RISK-FACTORS, LOW-INCOME, AGE, PREVALENCE, VIOLENCE, CHILDREN
  • Akdeniz Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Although post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adolescent pregnancy has been reported at high rates in the limited research in this area, no studies have evaluated gestation as trauma in teens. This study, aimed to evaluate PTSD in this high risk group. All pregnant adolescents who presented to our obstetrics and gynaecology clinics in a one-year period were invited to participate in the study. Adolescents with a history of domestic or dating violence, rape, and sexual abuse were excluded. PTSD was rated using the Child Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-Reaction Index. When the pregnant adolescents and control group were compared, various severities of PTSD were observed in nearly two-thirds of the study group. Although there was clinically significant PTSD among 23.3% of the controls, PTSD was more frequently seen in adolescents with pregnancy compared with their healthy peers. Educating adolescents about birth control methods and preventing child marriages will be protective in this respect.Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Teen pregnancy has significant psychosocial and economic impacts for adolescents, their offspring, and the community in terms of education and employment, increased risk of abuse and neglect, and the physical and emotional well-being of the offspring. Pregnancy and birth-related risks are also higher than in adults. In this context, pregnancy itself may be accepted as trauma for adolescents. What do the results of this study add? There has been limited research on PTSD in pregnant teens and is mainly associated with traumatic childhood events. This is the first study to examine pregnancy-related PTSD and related conditions in this group.