Psychological Aspects in Perinatal Medicinein the Years 1980 – 2000: I. Pregnancy

Overview

Objective:
A retrospective view of fulfillment of prognosis concerning psychosocial influence on thedevelopment of conceptus within the framework of the "Healthy Physical, Mental and SocialDevelopment of the New Generation" (11) as a background work for a new project called "Evaluationof the Development, Present State and Conditions to Provide Healthy Physical, Mental and SocialDevelopment of the New Generation until 2010" (No. 7346-3).Type of the Study: A retrospective analysis of the period 1980 - 2000, dealing with psychosocialproblems in relation to pregnancy in this country.Name and Address of the Institution: Institute of the Care for Mother and Child, Podolské nábřeží157, 147 00, Praha 4.Conclusion: In the beginning of eighties, the perinatal studies paid for the first time attention topsychosocial risk factors and their close relationship to the biological risk factors. For example,smoking and obesity in women occurred at significantly higher rates in dysfunctional families aswell as artificial abortions, perinatal losses etc. In the nineties epidemiological studies in this areawere originated.New problem areas, which emerged, concerned mainly pregnant women with HIV/AIDS infection,drug-dependentwomen and those after artificial fertilization. In addition to medial questions, socialand psychological questions had also to be solved.An old and new theme is a psychoprophylactic preparation for delivery, which undewent significantchanges, particularly in connection with presence of the father during delivery. Moreover, it shouldnot be neglected to investigate to influence of the methods of examination on the psychicalconditions of the pregnant women for their possible negative effects, as in for example the case ofexamination of amniotic fluid sampled by amniocentesis for genetic indication and a "long" periodof waiting for the results. In contrast, other factors may exert a positive effect, as is for example thecase with sonographic examination of the conceptus, when the woman can observe the conceptusand its movements on the screen.

Key words:
Pregnancy, psychological and social risk factors, IVF + ET, psychoprophylactic preparationfor delivery