Health practices and anxiety in low-income, high and low-risk pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate anxiety and health-protective and health-promoting behaviors in low- and high-risk, low-income pregnant women.


METHODS
Nonrandomized descriptive study.


METHODS
Low- and high-risk prenatal clinics at a tertiary-care center.


METHODS
Sixty-five black and white low-income women between 20 and 41 weeks of pregnancy.


METHODS
Anxiety and health-promoting behavior.


RESULTS
No significant differences were found in anxiety levels. A significant difference was found between the two groups in overall Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) scores. Women in the low-risk group scored higher on all HPLP subscales, with significant differences on self-actualization and health responsibility.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings support the need for nurses to assess high-risk pregnant women for their health practices during pregnancy. Although a major focus on nursing care during pregnancy is teaching the promotion of health, only limited research exists on the effectiveness of such interventions.
Kemp
V H
VH
School of Nursing, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912.
Hatmaker
D D
DD
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008019:Life Style; D016389:Maternal-Child Nursing; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011203:Poverty; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D044469:Racial Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires