Determination of pregnancy perception and health needs of pregnant women

This research was conducted as a descriptive study to determine pregnancy perceptions and health needs of pregnant women. The research was carried out at Aksaray University Training and Research Hospital between 10 November 2020 and 01 February 2022. The Research was carried out in two stages, first stage constitutes the methodological part. The validity and reliability of "Maternal Health Needs Scale", developed in China population, in Turkish society were carried out with 230 pregnant women. The second phase, which constitutes the descriptive part, was carried out with 372 pregnant women between 01 August 2021 and 01 February 2021. The universe of the descriptive stage consists of 3000 pregnant women who applied to the relevant hospital. . The sample size was calculated using the sample with a known population approach. Data were collected with the "Personel Information Form 2", "The Maternal Health Needs Scale" and "the Self-Perception of Pregnant Women Scale". The collected data were analyzed with the IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0 and AMOS 25 programs. The Maternal Health Needs Scale adapted for Turkey was found to be valid and reliable. The Maternal Health Needs Scale mean total score was found 94,48±7,59, the mean score of the Self-Perception in Pregnancy Scale-Maternity Perception sub-dimension was 24.06±2.78, and the mean score of the Body Perception sub-dimension was 11.77±2.56. A significant relationship was found between the total score of the Maternal Health Needs Scale and the variables of education level, employment status, income level, number of pregnancies, and state of wanting pregnancy (p<0,05). There is a significant difference between the mean scores of the Self-Perception Scale in Pregnancy-Maternity Perception sub-dimension and the variables of wanting pregnancy and having health problems, statistically significant difference was found between the mean scores of the Body Perception sub-dimension of pregnant women and the variables of age, education status, employment status, pregnancy trimester, number of pregnancies, wanting pregnancy and having health problems (p<0,05). As a result of the research, it was determined that the maternal health needs of the pregnant women were high, their perceptions of maternity were positive, and their body perceptions were slightly negative. Keywords: Pregnancy, health needs, maternity perception, body image, validity, reliability