ABSTRACT
Objective:
To assess the association between perceived social support and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.
Method:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in a maternity hospital northwest of Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil from November 2021 to April 2022. A sociodemographic and clinical characterization questionnaire and a social support scale were used. Descriptive and inferential analysis.
Results:
Puerperal women with higher education had higher mean scores for emotional support (p=0.015); white women had higher mean scores for material support (p=0.009); and those in stable unions had higher mean scores for emotional support (p=0.0016), emotional support (p=0.035), information (p=0.019) and positive interaction (p=0.032). There were significant differences between the variables in which the pregnancy was planned, in which puerperal women received more material support (p=0.015) and those with systemic arterial hypertension, who received more support and positive interaction (p=0.014).
Conclusion:
The puerperal women had high social support scores. However, higher scores were observed among those from higher socioeconomic levels, in union, who had a planned pregnancy and hypertension during pregnancy.
KEYWORDS:
Social Support; Women’s Health; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy Complications; Integrality in Health.
HIGHLIGHTS
1. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics influence perceived social support.
2. Puerperal in stable unions had higher average levels of support.
3. Planned pregnancy was associated with greater material support.