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Sociobiological variables and pregnancy outcome
Author(s) -
Tambyrajia R.L.,
Mongelli M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/s0020-7292(00)00226-5
Subject(s) - pregnancy , psychosocial , outcome (game theory) , intervention (counseling) , socioeconomic status , sociobiology , ethnic group , medicine , psychology , developmental psychology , obstetrics , environmental health , psychiatry , population , economics , biology , political science , genetics , mathematical economics , evolutionary biology , law
Recent advances are beginning to shed light on the mechanisms whereby adverse psychosocial factors can influence pregnancy outcome. High levels of maternal stress have been linked to endocrine disturbances, which in turn increases the risk of preterm labor considerably. These observations have been supported by experimental animal models. Birth weight is subject to considerable ethnic variation, and on its own is a nonspecific indicator of pregnancy outcome. The benefits of social and psychological intervention have been best documented in the intrapartum situation, whereas antenatal intervention is most likely to be of benefit when focused on improving socioeconomic conditions and access to healthcare providers.