[Visualization of unstructured personal narratives of perterm birth using text network analysis]

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Maternal Health
• Qualitative Research Methods

Context:

• Preterm birth (PTB) remains a significant global health challenge.
• Understanding women's lived experiences is crucial for comprehensive PTB care.
• Existing research often lacks a deep dive into the multifaceted components of PTB from the patient's perspective.

Purpose:

• To identify the core components contributing to preterm birth (PTB) using women's personal narratives.
• To visualize and analyze clinical symptom expressions (CSEs) associated with PTB.
• To explore the subjective experiences and contributing factors of PTB.

Summary:

• Eleven women who experienced PTB provided personal narratives through individual interviews.
• Text network analysis revealed nine PTB components (e.g., obstetric, emotional, physical conditions, stress, support) and six CSEs (e.g., stress, labor pain, uterine contraction).
• Key findings include the prevalence of preterm labor, fear of PTB, concern for fetal well-being, and physical difficulties among participants.

Impact:

• The identified nine PTB components are essential for developing reliable and valid scales for PTB risk and stress assessment.
• The six CSEs can be utilized for assessing preterm labor and informing clinical practice.
• Findings offer valuable insights for women's health nursing education and curriculum development, enhancing student preparedness.