25 / 26
Page 63
June 28-29, 2019 | Oslo, Norway
Volume 08
Journal of Medical and Health Sciences | ISSN : 2319-
Breast Pathology and Cancer, Gynecology and Obstetrics Pathology, Palliativecare and Gerontology 2019
Joint Event
Breast Pathology & Cancer
Palliativecare & Gerontology
Gynecology and Obstetrics Pathology
A systematic review regarding the emotional and psychological experiences of medically
complicated pregnancies
Nazeema Isaacs
University of the Western Cape, South Africa
H
igh-risk pregnancy refers to a pregnancy that negatively affects the health of the mother, the baby, or
both, and evoking a range of emotional/psychological experiences. Research on high-risk pregnancy
is predominantly found in the medical arena, while women’s emotional/psychological experiences are not
sufficiently documented. For this reason, the objective of this study was to examine the medical conditions and
complications in the reviewed articles that make a pregnancy high-risk, while at the same time investigating
the emotional/psychological experiences of women throughout their high-risk pregnancies. The systematic
review examined qualitative studies, including the qualitative components of mixed method studies published
between January 2006 and June 2017. The databases searched are EbscoHost, JSTOR, Sage Journals Online,
ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Sabinet, Scopus, Emerald eJournals Premier, Pubmed, as well as Taylor and
Francis OpenAccess eJournals. The study evaluated the literature found on these databases for methodological
quality by using three stages of review (i.e. abstract reading, title reading, and full-text reading) and applying
a meta-synthesis to the current evidence on the research topic. The findings provide empirical evidence
based on sound research that medical conditions and complications (i.e. HELLP syndrome, thrombophilia,
gestational diabetes, maternal near-miss syndrome, fetal abnormality, preterm birth, hypertension, and
uterine rupture) are associated with women’s emotional/psychological experiences (i.e. fear, shock, feeling
frightened, sadness, worry, alienation, frustration, grief, guilt, anger, ambivalence, despair, upset, loneliness
and isolation, anxiety, depression, and PTSD) throughout their high-risk pregnancies. As a result of this,
survivors of severe pregnancy complications have subsequent psychological and emotional challenges.
RRJMHS 2019, Volume 08