Effect of stress management education on mood and perceived stress among oral contraceptive pill users

Mood changes and high perceived stress are considered as the controversial side effects of oral contraceptive pill [OCP] consumption. The belief that OCPs cause mood changes and depression could be a significant factor to discontinue OCP use in women, the event that inevitably leads to increase the rate of unwanted pregnancies with high costs on the families and society. Therefore, providing stress management educational programs could improve mood and perceived stress during OCP use, thereby, prevents discontinuation of OCPs. The aim of this study was to determine whether stress management education could influence mood and perceived stress in oral contraceptive users. This randomized controlled trial was conducted on ninety two women who were suitable candidates to use OCPs. Mood state and perceived stress were measured by PANAS and PSS, before intervention [as pretest]. Then, all of the subjects were randomly assigned into either experimental or control group. The experimental group [n=46] used OCP for three cycles with routine contraception counseling and concurrently exposed to one session of stress management education, and 3 times telephone counseling. The control group [n=46] received only routine contraception counseling during OCP use for three months. Mood and perceived stress were measured again after educational intervention. Significant reduction in negative mood and perceived stress and improvement in positive mood were found in the experimental group compared to the control group. The findings suggest beneficial effects of stress management education and counseling during OCP use that could reduce the rate of discontinuation and subsequent unwanted pregnancies. In addition, the stress management intervention could be considered as a significant factor to improve women's health promoting behaviors and quality of life during OCP use

Correlation between maternal anxiety during pregnancy and incidence of preeclampsia in primigravid Women

Hypertensive disorders have been the most important issues in obstetrics. It seems that the risk factors of preeclampsia are not recognized well. However, depression and maternal anxiety could be the mental aspects of the risk factors in preeclamsia in recent times. The present study conducted to determine the association between maternal anxiety and occurance of preeclampsia, in primigravid women, admitting in clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. A prospective cohort study was used. Speilberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory was used as a data gathering tool, for 750 literate, primigravid women without any history of mental or physical illnesses. All participants were selected through consecutive sampling method. The study findings showed that, the majority of sample group suffered from moderate State anxiety [63.2%] and moderate Trait anxiety [63.4%] respectively. Besides, increasing the severity of both State and Trait anxieties were correlated with higher incidence rate of preeclampsia. Also, statistically significant differences were found between the severity of Trait and State anxieties and Preeclampsia [P0.006 and P0.005], respectively. Results of this study also showed that, there was significant relationship between incidence of risk of preeclampsia and the severity of anxiety, in women with sever State anxiety [P>0.005]. The risk ratio of preeclampsia in women with sever state anxiety was more than of women with mild State anxiety [RR=5.43]. In addition, the risk ratio of preeclampsia in women with sever Trait anxiety, [RR=5.71] was more than of women with mild Trait anxiety. According to the study results, midwives and health care workers' attention to psychological health of pregnant women during prenatal period is one of the most important matter that should be emphasized