Headache and distress during pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Neurology
• Public Health

Background:

• Headache is a common complaint during pregnancy, impacting maternal well-being.
• Understanding the prevalence and associated factors of headache in pregnant populations is crucial for effective healthcare management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of headache among pregnant women.
• To identify variables associated with headache during pregnancy.
• To assess the level of distress experienced by pregnant women with headache.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 600 pregnant women in Sakarya, Turkey.
• Data were collected between June 1, 2020, and December 1, 2020.
• Statistical analyses included Chi-squared tests and logistic regression, with a significance level of P < 0.05.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of headache during pregnancy was 55.7% (334 out of 600 women).
• A significant portion of pregnant women (24.0%, 144 women) experienced distress.
• No statistically significant relationship was found between the presence or severity of headache and the prevalence of distress (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Headache is a prevalent health issue for pregnant women.
• The study found no association between headache characteristics (presence, severity) and distress levels.
• Further research may be needed to explore other factors influencing distress in pregnant women with headaches.