Comparison of pregnant women from public and private health care: a psychological approach

• Main Authors: Juliana Fernandes Filgueiras Meireles (Author), Clara Mockdece Neves (Author), Marcella Fernandes Paticcié Nacif (Author), Pedro Henrique Berbert de Carvalho (Author), Maria Elisa Caputo Ferreira (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Instituto Materno Infantil de Pernambuco.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 1806-9304; 10.1590/1806-93042019000100005
• Keywords: Body image; Pregnancy; Mental health; Public health; Gynecology and obstetrics; RG1-991
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Saúde Materno Infantil, Vol 19, Iss 1, Pp 79-87

Abstract Objectives: to compare sociodemographic, anthropometric and psychological factors in pregnant women receiving public and private health care, as well as verify the influence of eating attitudes, depressive symptoms, self-esteem and anxiety on body attitudes in both sectors. Methods: this study included 386 pregnant women aged 18-46 (mean of 29.32 ± 6.04 years). Instruments were applied to evaluate body attitudes, eating attitudes, depressive symptoms, self-esteem and anxiety. Anthropometric and obstetric data were collected. Descriptive, comparative and correlational analyses were performed. Results: troubled sociodemographic characteristics, negative body attitudes, inappropriate eating attitudes, depressive symptoms, low self-esteem, and high levels of trait and state anxiety were significantly higher among participants receiving public health care (p<0.05). Eating attitudes and self-esteem directly influenced the body attitudes of those receiving public health care (R2 adjusted=0.336, p<0.001) and private health care (R2 adjusted=0.324, p<0.001). Conclusions: it was concluded that the sociodemographic, anthropometric, and psychological factors were more worrying in pregnant women receiving care in the public sector when compared to those of the private sector.