Inferential statistics for categorical variables of stress among mothers of preterm infants (n=200)
| Characteristics | Moderate stress 8% (n=16) | High perceived stress 92% (n=184) | P value |
| Neonate gender | |||
| Male | 56.3% (9) | 62.5% (115) | 0.6 |
| Female | 43.8% (7) | 37.5% (69) | |
| Presenting complaints | |||
| Neonatal Jaundice (NNJ) | 37.5% (6) | 23.9% (44) | 0.501* |
| Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) | 37.5% (6) | 31% (57) | |
| Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) and LBW | 6.3% (1) | 12% (22) | |
| Transient Tachypnea of Newborn (TTN) | 12.5% (2) | 12% (22) | |
| Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), Transient Neonatal Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia (TNHI), sepsis, cardiac anomalies and others | 6.3% (1) | 21.2% (39) | |
| Immunisation of newborn | |||
| Complete | 75% (12) | 46.7% (86) | 0.03 |
| Incomplete | 25% (4) | 53.3% (98) | |
| Transferred from | |||
| NICU | 50% (8) | 42.9% (79) | 0.300* |
| B2 nursery | 12.5% (2) | 17.9% (33) | |
| ER | 31.3% (5) | 17.4% (32) | |
| OR and other | 6.3% (1) | 21.7% (40) | |
| Education status of mother | |||
| Below matriculation | 6.3% (1) | 2.2%(4) | 0.003* |
| Matriculation | 18.8% (3) | 24.5% (45) | |
| Intermediate | 12.5% (2) | 24.5% (45) | |
| Graduate | 25% (4) | 41.3% (76) | |
| Postgraduate and above | 37.5% (6) | 7.6% (14) | |
| Language spoken | |||
| Urdu | 68.8% (11) | 83.7% (154) | 0.057* |
| Sindhi | 12.5% (2) | 9.2% (17) | |
| Balochi | 12.5% (2) | 1.6% (3) | |
| Other | 6.3% (1) | 5.4% (10) | |
| Mother’s occupation | |||
| Housewife | 56.3% (9) | 85.9% (158) | 0.007 |
| Working | 43.8% (7) | 14.1% (26) | |
| Satisfaction with financial status | |||
| Yes | 87.5% (14) | 89.7% (165) | 0.678 |
| No | 12.5% (2) | 10.3% (19) | |
| Substance abuse by mother | |||
| No | 75% (12) | 92.4% (170) | 0.042 |
| Yes | 25% (4) | 7.6% (14) | |
| Marriage type | |||
| Consanguinity | 31.3% (5) | 34.8% (64) | 1 |
| Non-consanguinity | 68.8% (11) | 65.2% (120) | |
| Comorbidities in children | |||
| Yes | 0% (0) | 8.7% (16) | 0.373 |
| No | 100% (16) | 91.3% (168) | |
| Person taking care of other children during pregnancy | |||
| Family members | 62.5% (10) | 59.2% (109) | 1 |
| NA for primigavid mothers | 37.5% (6) | 40.8% (75) | |
| Planned pregnancy | |||
| Yes | 56.3% (9) | 74.5% (137) | 0.142 |
| No | 43.8% (7) | 25.5% (47) | |
| Plan for more children | |||
| Yes | 25% (4) | 55.4% (102) | 0.041* |
| No | 18.8% (3) | 16.3% (30) | |
| Will decide later | 56.3% (9) | 28.3% (52) | |
| Gender preference from family | |||
| Boy | 12.5% (2) | 45.1% (83) | 0.037* |
| Girl | 6.3% (1) | 2.7% (5) | |
| No | 81.3% (13) | 52.2% (96) | |
| Gynaecological issues | |||
| Yes | 6.3% (1) | 12.5% (23) | 0.699 |
| No | 93.8% (15) | 87.5% (161) | |
| Complications in pregnancy | |||
| GDM | 18.8% (3) | 23.4% (43) | 0.086* |
| Pre-eclampsia | 6.3% (1) | 21.7% (40) | |
| PROM | 37.5% (6) | 11.4% (21) | |
| IUGR | 6.3% (1) | 4.3% (8) | |
| Preterm labour pain | 25% (4) | 31% (57) | |
| Ante-partum Hemorrhage (APH) | 6.3% (1) | 8.2% (15) | |
| Mode of delivery | |||
| Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery (SVD) without episiotomy | 12.5% (2) | 7.6% (14) | 0.758* |
| Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery (SVD) with episiotomy | 12.5% (2) | 10.9% (20) | |
| Caesarean section | 75% (12) | 81.5% (150) | |
| History of miscarriage | |||
| Yes | 37.5% (6) | 32.6% (60) | 0.783 |
| No | 62.5% (10) | 67.4% (124) | |
| History of abortion | |||
| Yes | 6.3% (1) | 2.2% (4) | 0.344 |
| No | 93.8% (15) | 97.8% (180) | |
| History of preterm deliveries | |||
| Yes | 18.8% (3) | 13% (24) | 0.458 |
| No | 81.3% (13) | 87% (160) | |
| History of IUD | |||
| Yes | 6.3% (1) | 6.5% (12) | 1 |
| No | 93.8% (15) | 93.5% (172) | |
| Balance diet | |||
| Yes | 75% (12) | 93.5% (172) | 0.028 |
| No | 25% (4) | 6.5% (12) | |
| Antenatal visits during pregnancy | |||
| Initial weeks | 37.5% (6) | 64.7% (119) | 0.098* |
| First trimester | 56.3% (9) | 31.5% (58) | |
| Second and third trimester | 6.3% (1) | 3.8% (7) | |
| Immunisation status of mother | |||
| Complete | 81.3% (13) | 62.5% (115) | 0.178 |
| Incomplete | 18.8% (3) | 37.5% (69) | |
| Mode of feeding baby | |||
| Direct Breast Feeding (DBF) | 31.3% (5) | 24.5% (45) | 0.067* |
| Bottle feeding | 25% (4) | 8.7% (16) | |
| OG feeding | 43.8% (7) | 66.8% (123) | |
| Type of feed for baby | |||
| Breastfeed | 68.8% (11) | 58.7% (108) | 0.597 |
| Formula feed | 31.3% (5) | 41.3% (76) | |
| Family planning method | |||
| Natural | 12.5% (2) | 25% (46) | 0.367 |
| Artificial | 87.5% (14) | 75% (138) | |
| Type of family | |||
| Nuclear | 37.5% (8) | 23.9% (44) | 0.237 |
| Extended | 62.5% (10) | 76.1% (140) | |
| Comorbidities in family | |||
| Endocrine disorders | 62.5% (10) | 85.3% (157) | 0.072* |
| Heart diseases | 25% (4) | 7.1% (13) | |
| Cancers, neurological and respiratory problems | 6.3% (1) | 4.3% (8) | |
| No comorbidities | 6.3% (1) | 3.3% (6) | |
| Education status of husband | |||
| Matriculation | 12.5% (2) | 2.2% (4) | <0.000* |
| Intermediate | 6.3% (1) | 22.3% (41) | |
| Graduate | 37.5% (6) | 67.4% (124) | |
| Postgraduate and above | 43.8% (7) | 8.2% (15) | |
| Occupation of husband | |||
| Job | 43.8% (7) | 47.3% (87) | 1.000 |
| Business | 56.3% (9) | 52.7% (97) | |
| Substance abuse by husband | |||
| No | 62.5% (10) | 36.4% (67) | 0.102* |
| Betel nut, pan, gutka and naswar | 12.5% (2) | 31% (57) | |
| Cigarette | 25% (4) | 32.6% (60) | |
| Satisfaction in relationship with husband | |||
| To greater extent | 100% (16) | 96.7% (178) | 1.000 |
| To some extent and to lesser extent | 0% (0) | 3.3% (6) | |
| Satisfaction in relationship with in-laws | |||
| To greater extent | 25% (4) | 15.2% (28) | 0.294 |
| To some extent and to lesser extent | 75% (12) | 84.8% (156) | |
| How do you cope with stressful situation | |||
| Share with someone | 50% (8) | 33.7% (62) | 0.156* |
| Talk to husband | 12.5% (2) | 40.8% (75) | |
| Analyse it | 12.5% (2) | 10.9% (20) | |
| Other | 25% (4) | 14.7% (27) | |
| Finding solution in stressful situation | |||
| Yes | 93.8% (15) | 99.5% (183) | 0.154 |
| No | 6.3% (1) | 0.5% (1) | |
| Mode of socialisation | |||
| Outing with family | 31.3% (5) | 39.7% (73) | 0.032* |
| Outing with friends | 12.5% (2) | 23.4% (43) | |
| Social media | 6.3% (1) | 17.9% (33) | |
| Others | 50% (8) | 19% (35) | |
*Pearson’s χ2 p value.
ER, emergency room; GDM, gestational diabetes mellitus; IUD, intrauterine death; LBW, low birth weight; NA, not available; NICU, neonatal intensive care unit; OG, orogastric; OR, operating room; PROM, premature rupture of membranes.