Pastoral care utilization among women electing pregnancy termination for fetal anomalies

Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy
T B BradyR L Kramer

Abstract

To identify determinants of requesting pastoral care (PC) at the time of pregnancy termination for fetal anomalies. PC was provided by a hospital-based chaplain. Data were reviewed for 88 women who elected pregnancy termination. Nominal logistic regression and Kruskal-Wallis and Student t tests were used as appropriate. None of 37 women who underwent dilatation and curettage (D&C) or dilatation and evacuation (D&E) requested PC as compared with 40 of 51 patients who underwent prostaglandin induction of labor (p < 0.001). The decision to seek PC was related to gestational age (p < 0.001), but not to maternal age, prior termination of pregnancy, gravidity, parity, racial background, or insurance status. The gestational age was also a significant predictor of the procedure performed (p < 0.001). D&C/D&E were significantly more likely to be performed at earlier gestational ages. Women seeking PC were less likely to have experienced previous pregnancy loss or the death of a child. Among women who sought PC, 20% had experienced previous pregnancy loss or the death of a child, as opposed to 54% of women in the prostaglandin group who did not seek PC (p = 0.03). In the D&C/D&E group, the figure was 46%. Utilization of PC is much more f...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.