Thesis
Attitudes and perceptions concerning pregnancy among adult women with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
May 2014
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-4469
Abstract
An increasing number of pregnancies are occurring in women with "pre-gestational" diabetes (i.e., women whose Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes diagnosis predates a pregnancy). Hyperglycemia at conception and during pregnancy can lead to adverse outcomes for both mother and child. Recommendations have been made to decrease these risks, such as attending preconception counseling and improving blood glucose levels prior to becoming pregnant. However, about 2/3 of women with diabetes do not plan their pregnancies, leading to suboptimal blood glucose control and minimal prepregnancy care. Many women have reported a poor knowledge of the risks, a lack of information from health care providers, and unsupportive attitudes from others (i.e., health care providers, family members, partners) as some reasons for not planning a pregnancy. Previous researchers have examined retrospective views from women who have been pregnant, but the attitudes and perceptions of non-pregnant women with diabetes have not been fully explored. The current study assesses quantitatively how women with pre-gestational diabetes view their ability to control their disease, prevent a pregnancy, and understand how to reduce risks of adverse outcomes. A sample of 210 women with diabetes was recruited through online social media to complete a single, self-report online survey. Measures include a demographics form, a Diabetes and Pregnancy Education and Knowledge questionnaire, the Reproductive Health Attitudes and Behaviors instrument, and the Diabetes-Specific Locus of Control measure. Results of a multiple regression analysis indicated that self-efficacy was positively associated with expected worth of attending preconception counseling (b= 0.27, SEb= 0.05, t(203)= 5.98, p< .001) while self-blame (b= -0.25, SEb= 0.10, t(203)= -2.51, p= 0.013) and belief of a healthcare provider's control over disease management were negatively associated (b= -0.05, SEb= 0.02, t(203)= -2.74, p= 0.007). The majority of the women reported not receiving formal preconception counseling from a healthcare provider. About half of the participants were unable to recall multiple risks of uncontrolled blood glucose levels during pregnancy, yet an overwhelming majority correctly identified the targeted HbA1c level at conception. The clinical relevance of the results includes providing information about the effect of women's perceptions and beliefs about disease management on planning a pregnancy, surveying how thoroughly the prepregnancy recommendations are followed by healthcare providers, and showing the level of specific knowledge that women with diabetes have about the risks of uncontrolled blood glucose. Future work might utilize information gleaned from this study to create interventions that focus on increasing attendance at preconception counseling and conduct further studies that measure attendance and pregnancy outcomes.
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Details
- Title
- Attitudes and perceptions concerning pregnancy among adult women with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
- Creators
- Caroline Marie Grady - DU
- Contributors
- Pamela A. Geller (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 4469; 991014632242504721