Prevalence and determinants of low social support during pregnancy among Australian women: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Providing strong social support improves emotional and physical well-being, strengthens social relationships, promotes health, and enhances the stress coping ability of pregnant women. However, pregnant women receiving low social support are at risk of substances use, developing mental illness, and adverse birth outcomes. The current study aims to determine the prevalence and determinants of low social support during pregnancy among Australian women. Data were obtained from Survey 6 of the 1973­1978 cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) (n = 493, pregnant women aged 34­39 years). This cohort is one of ALSWH ongoing community-based study focusing on the health of women in Australia. Social support provided for a pregnant woman was the outcome variable, assessed using the 19-item Medical Outcomes Study Social Support index (MOSS). The prevalence of low social support in each domain was calculated for each of the independent variables. A logistic regression model, using a backward stepwise elimination approach, was employed to identify determinants of low social support. In the final model, the strength of association measured by adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. From the total participant pregnant women, 7.1% of them reported low social support. Significant determinants of low social support among pregnant Australian women were, having a mental illness, being stressed and/or being from low socio-economic status and being non-partnered. Maternal health professionals can use this information to screen pregnant women at risk of receiving low social support as well as develop policy to help enhance the social support being given and the psychological wellbeing being of pregnant women.