Background The COVID-19 pandemic has affected perinatal mental health. Reliable tools are needed to assess perinatal stress during pandemic situations. Aims To assess the psychometric properties of the Greek versions of the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale (PREPS) and the Pandemic-Related Postpartum Stress Scale (PREPS-PP) and to explore the associations between women's characteristics and perinatal stress during the second pandemic wave. Methods The PREPS and PREPS-PP were completed by 264 pregnant and 188 postpartum women, respectively, who also completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Results The internal consistency was similar for PREPS and PREPS-PP. It was good for preparedness stress (a = 0.77 and α = 0.71, respectively) and infection stress (α = 0.83 for both scales) but low for positive appraisal (α = 0.46 and α = 0.41, respectively). Of the pregnant women, 55.33% and 55.27%, respectively, reported scores of ≥40 on STAI-S and STAI-T, and the respective percentages for the postpartum women were 47.34% and 46.80%. In addition, 14.39% of the pregnant women and 20.74% of the postpartum women scored ≥13 on the EPDS. Higher preparedness stress on PREPS and PREPS-PP was associated with primiparity ( P = 0.022 and P = 0.021, respectively) and disrupted perinatal care ( P = 0.069 and P = 0.007, respectively). In postpartum women, higher infection stress was associated with chronic disease ( P = 0.037), primiparity ( P = 0.02) and perceived risk of infection ( P = 0.065). Higher score on infection stress was associated with disrupted perinatal care in both groups ( P = 0.107 and P = 0.010, respectively). Conclusions The Greek versions of PREPS and PREPS-PP are valid tools for the assessment of women at risk of perinatal stress during a health crisis.
Contraceptive use in adolescence remains a challenging issue. Adolescents are at high risk of unintended pregnancies and sexual transmitted infections. During the past few decades intrauterine devices are recommended from global health organization, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and World Health Organization as a method of contraception for adolescents. Intrauterine devices are part of the long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) and include the copper bearing device (CU-IUD) and the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS). IUDs are a safe and effective contraceptive method for adolescents with a failure rate less than 1%. Their use is not limited only in contraception. LNG-IUS 52 mg is approved for treating heavy menstrual bleeding and protection from endometrial hyperplasia in women receiving hormone replacement therapy. It can also be an effective tool in the management of dysmenorrhea, while CU-IUD can provide emergency contraception. Nevertheless, IUDs remain underutilized in this group of population. Adolescents' lack of proper education about contraception and sexual behavior creates myths and misconceptions about the possible side effects and the suitability of IUDs in this age group. Furthermore, health care providers remain skeptical and hesitate to suggest IUDs to adolescents. Other barriers including high cost, concern about confidentiality and difficulties in access contribute to its limited use. It is of high importance to eliminate barriers and offer more accessible contraceptive services to adolescents.
'%3e%3cpath fill='%23012169' d='M0 0v30h60V0z'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='6' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='4' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30' clip-path='url(%23b)'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='10' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='6' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
