In:
Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, S. Karger AG, Vol. 13, No. 2 ( 1998), p. 123-126
Abstract:
〈 b 〉 Objective: 〈 /b 〉 To identify determinants of requesting pastoral care (PC) at the time of pregnancy termination for fetal anomalies. 〈 b 〉 Methods: 〈 /b 〉 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. 〈 b 〉 Results: 〈 /b 〉 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%. 〈 b 〉 Conclusions: 〈 /b 〉 Utilization of PC is much more frequent among women undergoing prostaglandin induction of labor than D & C/D & E. Determinants of seeking PC are related to issues congruent with choices of the termination procedure. Patients who experienced a previous pregnancy loss or the death of a child are also less likely to feel the need, or do not want, chaplaincy involvement.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1015-3837
,
1421-9964
Language:
English
Publisher:
S. Karger AG
Publication Date:
1998
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1482292-1
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