MATERNITY AND UNIVERSITY: STRESS IN STUDENTS OF AN INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC FEDERAL INSTITUTION
Abstract
Pregnant women and mothers who are university students face unique barriers in balancing academic demands with childcare. This study aimed to investigate the signs, symptoms, and stages of stress in pregnant students and mothers at an international public federal university. This is an observational, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, conducted between 2018 and 2019 with pregnant and mother university students, both Brazilian and foreign. Data were collected using the Lipp’s Stress Symptom Inventory for Adults (LSSI) and analyzed using the Epi Info software. Eighty-one university students participated in the study, of whom 50.6% were mothers, 43.2% were Brazilian, and 39.5% were Guinean. Signs and symptoms of stress were identified in 61.7% of the participants, being more frequent among pregnant women, corresponding to 70% of the group. Regarding the stages of stress, 57.1% of pregnant women were in a state of near exhaustion, while 72.2% of mothers were in a state of exhaustion. Physical symptoms predominated in 52.0% of the students, with 67.9% of pregnant women standing out. It is concluded that stress is a prevalent phenomenon among pregnant women and university mothers, highlighting the need for institutional support strategies that consider the specificities of these women.
Author Biographies
Nurse and Master’s degree holder from the Graduate Program in Nursing at the University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony (Unilab), and Ph.D. from the Graduate Program in Morphofunctional Sciences at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC).
Nursing student – University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony (Unilab).
Nursing student – University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony (Unilab).
Veterinarian from the State University of Ceará (UECE), Master’s degree from the Graduate Program in Veterinary Sciences – UECE, Ph.D. from the Graduate Program in Medical Sciences at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), and Lecturer in the Medicine Course at UECE – Quixeramobim Campus, Ceará.
Nurse and Master’s degree holder from the Graduate Program in Nursing at the University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony (Unilab), Ph.D. from the Graduate Program in Morphofunctional Sciences at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), and postdoctoral researcher in the Graduate Program in Veterinary Sciences at the State University of Ceará (UECE).
Veterinarian from the State University of Ceará (UECE), holds a Master’s and Ph.D. in Veterinary Sciences from the Graduate Program in Veterinary Sciences – UECE, and is a lecturer in the Nursing, Pharmacy, and Medicine programs at the University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony (Unilab).
Pharmacist from the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), holds a Master’s and Ph.D. in Medical Sciences from the Graduate Program in Medical Sciences – UFC, and is a lecturer in the Medicine Course at the University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony (Unilab).
Dentist from the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), holds a Master’s degree from the Graduate Program in Pharmacology – UFC, a Ph.D. from the Graduate Program in Medical Sciences – UFC, and is a lecturer in the Nursing, Pharmacy, and Medicine programs at the University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony (Unilab).
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