Paper
Saturday, July 14, 2007
This presentation is part of : Issues in Women's Healthcare
Advanced Age Pregnant Women: Their Health Concerns and Anxiety
Alice Yuen Loke, PhD, School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong and Chung Fun Poon, RN, MSc, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Learning Objective #1: identify the health concerns and health behaviors of pregnant women aged ”Ż35
Learning Objective #2: compare the differences of health concerns and health behaviors between pregnant women aged ”Ż35 and those younger than 35 years of age

 

This is a cross-sectional study aims to examine the differences of health concerns and health behaviors between pregnant women aged ≥35 and those younger than 35 years of age. A total of 235 primiparae Chinese women were recruited from an antenatal clinic of a large regional hospital in Hong Kong to complete a questionnaire. When the advanced age pregnant women are compared with those younger than 35, they are more likely to have tertiary education (42.6% vs. 28.7%), higher monthly family income ≥ HK$40,001 (40.5% vs. 15.3%). They are also more likely to concern about °„possibility of miscarriage' (63.8% vs. 45/9%), Down's syndrome (70.2% vs. 37.8%), structural defect of fetus (78.7% vs. 54.1%), the physical demand in caring the newborn (61.7% vs. 45.4%), and health recovery after childbirth (63.8% vs. 42.7%). However, they are more likely to take up health promotion behaviors, such as °„take nutritious food' (100%), avoid °„junk food' (72.3%) and °„wearing tight clothing and high heel shoes' (100%). The advanced age women have lower anxiety state score than their counter part (m=37.9 vs. 40.1) although it is not statistical difference. The results of this study provide the background for improving maternity care catering the specific needs of these advanced age pregnant women.