The effect of superstitions during pregnancy on quality of life and pregnancy adjustment

Objective: This study was planned to determine the effect of superstitions during pregnancy on quality of life and pregnancy adjustment. Methods: A descriptive and correlational design was employed. Data were collected from all pregnant women who accepted to participate in the study and lived in the Central Anatolia Region in Türkiye between December 2022 and May 2023 (a single region was targeted due to the possibility of cultural diversity between regions). Data collection tools were a Descriptive Information Form, the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire, the Superstitious Belief Scale (SBS), and the SF-36 Quality of Life Scale. Descriptive, comparative, and multiple regression analyses were performed. Results: The mean age of the participants was 27.78 ± 5.09. The mean score of the pregnant women was 32.73 ± 11.18 on the total SBS, 155.80 ± 29.37 on the total Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire, and 59.27 ± 22.02 on the total SF-36 Quality of Life Scale. A relationship was observed between superstition and pregnancy adjustment and quality of life. The findings of this study showed that as the superstition level of pregnant women increased, their incompatibility with pregnancy increased and quality of life decreased. Conclusion: Midwives and other health personnel should be informed and made aware of superstitions and practices that affect maternal and child health and women should be educated about harmful superstitious practices in the prenatal period.