Author/Editor     Pahor, Majda; Novak-Antolič, Živa; Zaletel-Kragelj, Lijana
Title     Stress burden in women in reproductive age in Slovenia - some causes and consequences
Translated title     Breme stresa pri ženskah v rodnem obdobju v Sloveniji - nekateri vzroki in posledice
Type     članek
Source     Zdrav Vestn
Vol. and No.     Letnik 78, št. 6-7
Publication year     2009
Volume     str. 281-8
Language     eng
Abstract     Background Stress is one of basic risk factors influencing different health states, including reproductive health of women. The study was aimed at measuring the level of stress in different groups of women in order to identify high-risk groups for stress and relate them to birth rate dynamics in Slovenia. Methods The data originate from the national health behaviour database in adults aged 25‐64. Data collected in 2001 were used. The sample size was 15,379. Among them there were 4,942 women in reproductive age (25‐49 years). The response rate of the mailed questionnaire in this group was 68 %, with 3,181 questionnaires being eligible for analysis. Binary multiple logistic regression was used to determine the impact of age, education, type of work, marital status, self-assessed social class, and type of residence community on the prevalence of frequent perception of stress. Results The overall prevalence of frequent perception of stress was 29.7 %. The highest odds ratios (OR) for stress were registered in women in age group 40‐44 (OR40‐44 vs 25‐29 = 1.35, p = 0.048), with the lowest (ORuncompleted primary vs primary = 1.73, p = 0.038) and the highest education levels (ORcollege vs primary = 1.76, p = 0.008; ORuniversity vs primary = 1.80, p = 0.006), employed in industry as heavy workers (ORheavy workers in industry vs housekeepers/students = 1.76, p = 0.010), divorced (ORdivorced vs consensual union = 1.72, p = 0.013), self-classified in the lowest social classes (ORlower vs upper-middle = 3.25, p < 0.001; ORlabour vs upper-middle = 1.57, p = 0.011); and residents of suburban communities (ORsuburban vs rural = 1.27, p = 0.029).Conclusions Public health activities to reduce stress burden among women in reproductive age in Slovenia (e.g. changes of legislation, changes of workplace behaviour) should be focused on women with lowest education and of lowest social class, especially working in heavy industry, and on employed women with highest education.
Descriptors     STRESS, PSYCHOLOGICAL
REPRODUCTION
PREVALENCE
RISK FACTORS
QUESTIONNAIRES
ADULT
MULTIVARIATE ANALYSIS