Features of gestational dominance in pregnant and recently pregnant women in conditions full-scale war in Ukraine: results of a population-based study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18370/2309-4117.2025.77.19-30

Keywords:

pregnancy, childbirth, war, gestational dominant, depression, perinatal psychology, psychological help

Abstract

Introduction. The problem of the demographic crisis in Ukraine in the conditions of the ongoing full-scale war has become critical both due to negative fertility and due to the prolonged impact of stress. In these conditions, the concept of gestational dominant, which depends on the environment and reflects the psycho-emotional state of the pregnant woman, acquires special importance.
Objective of the study: to investigate the features of the psycho-emotional state of pregnant women and women who have recently given birth, who have been affected by the full-scale war in Ukraine.
Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of the Maternity Hospital No. 5 in Odessa and included 828 women; 63.8% of them were pregnant and 36.2% were women who had recently given birth. The participants were surveyed using google forms, which was created based on the assessment of the psychological component of gestational dominant according to I.V. Dobryakov and on the assessment of the anxiety degree according to the Beck’s Depression Inventory scale.
Results. The attitude of women towards their pregnancy was characterized by the optimal type of psychological component of gestational dominant only in 46.75 ± 8.36% of them, euphoric – in 26.12 ± 20.18%; anxious – in 18.6 ± 8.25%, depressive – in 1.82 ± 1.38% and ignoring – in 6.89 ± 2.51% of women. The attitude of pregnant women towards their child was optimal in 43.96 ± 5.47%, showed some euphoria in 31.73 ± 12.7%, anxious in 17.5 ± 15.08%; depressive in 2.06 ± 0.77 women.
The perception of the attitude of others towards their pregnancy showed that 47.5 ± 23.8% of women consider it optimal, 29.58 ± 18.29% were in a euphoric state, 5.43 ± 4.87% were in an anxious state, 1.8 ± 1.53% were depressed; and the ignoring type was leading – 15.43 ± 5.62% of the participants. Assessment of the women’s state according to the Beck’s Depression Inventory scale showed the mild depression in 25% of women; moderate depression in 9% and severe depression in 8% participants. Only 58% of women had a normal psychosomatic state.
Conclusions. Gestational dominant in war conditions is characterized by a decrease in the number of women with the optimal type and the prevalence of women with the euphoric type, which can be considered as a means of psychological protection from danger. The mental health of women is of particular importance for the future of the country. The involvement of perinatal psychologists in working with this cohort of these patients is critical.

Author Biographies

G.S. Manasova, Odessa National Medical University, Odessa, Ukraine

MD, professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

G.V. Shpatakovska, Odessa State University of Internal Affairs, Odessa, Ukraine

PhD, assistant, Department of Psychology and Pedagogy

I.V. Shpak, Одеський національний медичний університет; НП «Пологовий будинок №5» ОМР, м. Одеса, Україна

MD, professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology;
director

O.V. Zhovtenko, Odessa National Medical University, Odessa, Ukraine

PhD, associate of professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

J.O. Stasii, Municipal Non-Profit Enterprise «Maternity Hospital No. 5», Odessa

obstetrician-gynecologist

K.О. Kalnooka, Municipal Non-Profit Enterprise «Maternity Hospital No. 5», Odessa

obstetrician-gynecologist

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Published

2025-05-30

How to Cite

Manasova, G., Shpatakovska, G., Shpak, I., Zhovtenko, O., Stasii, J., & Kalnooka, K. (2025). Features of gestational dominance in pregnant and recently pregnant women in conditions full-scale war in Ukraine: results of a population-based study. REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY, (77), 19–30. https://doi.org/10.18370/2309-4117.2025.77.19-30

Issue

No. 77 (2025)

Section

Pregnancy and childbirth

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