Niveles de estrés en pacientes mexicanas embarazadas seropositivas al VIH

Introduction

A significant proportion of HIV-infected women of reproductive age wish to become pregnant, even when they know the risk for their health and for their children, as well as the probability of vertical transmission of the infection. During this process, stress produces adverse neonatal events, affecting mother-child relationship. Therefore, it is important to determine the stress level of these patients.

Objective

To determine the stress levels in HIV positive pregnant patients of the National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico.

Material and method

An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out on 73 HIV-positive pregnant patients, and the stress level was evaluated using the Nowack test.

Results

The areas comprising the Nowack stress profile were within the limits of a healthy population, with the exception of type «A» behaviours (internalized anger, expressed anger, time haste, work speed, impatience, search for improvement, bad driving of vehicles, distrust, anger, hostility), and ARC reagents (substance abuse, alcohol and tobacco use), whose scores were lower than the average, acting as protective resources against this type of behaviour.

Conclusions

The majority of HIV-positive pregnant patients presented a level of stress within the average of the healthy population. This is probably associated with the feeling of control that represents the fact of being attached to a first-level institution receiving integrated care.