[Psychosocial status of adolescents and pregnancy toxemia]

To compare the perception of psychosocial conditions (during pregnancy) between two groups of adolescents; one group was integrated by young women diagnosed with pregnancy induced-hypertension and the other group by clinically healthy women.

A case-control study design where 39 cases and 88 controls were chosen from pregnant adolescents seeking care at the General Hospital of Durango City, México, from July 1996 to February 1997, and from September 1998 to January 1999. Participants agreed to answer a semi-structured questionnaire to collect data on psychosocial support; psychosocial source of stress; coping responses; intention, desire and acceptance of pregnancy; and attitude and quality of socialization during pregnancy. Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics, chi 2 and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

The two groups' sociodemographic and gyneco-obstetric characteristics were similar. Perception of stressors was higher among cases; sources of support were greater among controls. Positive attitudes and satisfactory socialization during pregnancy were more frequently reported by controls, with statistically significant differences between groups.

We found qualitative differences in the perception of psychosocial conditions among study participants, with statistically significant favorable perceptions among controls.