The Role of the Social Worker in Improving Social Support and Quality of Life for Pregnant Women with High-Risk Pregnancies

Abstract

Communication with a social worker during the hospital treatment of patients who are under the continuous supervision of professional medical staff is of particular importance for a better and more comprehensive approach to the patient during pregnancy. Improving the quality of life during and after hospital treatment of patients with high-risk pregnancies is the common goal of the professional staff of the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, as well as the environment in which the patient spends time after discharge from hospital treatment. Comprehensive antenatal care in developed countries is considered one of the foundations of good social and health policy. The social worker’s approach in working with a pregnant woman who is undergoing treatment under the diagnosis of high-risk pregnancy must first of all be empathetic, supportive and filled with mutual trust. During the communication process with the pregnant woman, the social worker first collects all the relevant facts about the social status of the pregnant woman, then provides support in resolving rights in the field of social protection and continues with advisory work during hospital treatment. The aim of the work was to investigate the role of the social worker in improving the quality of life of pregnant women with a diagnosis of high-risk pregnancy from the perspective of patients hospitalized at the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics of the University Hospital Tuzla. N = 50 participants aged 16-45 took part in the research. During the research, the participants were hospitalized for the purpose of maintaining a pregnancy that is at risk. The duration of hospitalization of female patients is from 7 to 21 days. During the research, an anonymous survey was used, which consisted of the following measurement instruments: WHOQOL-BREF Quality of Life Questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support MSPSS, Personal Wellbeing Index-Adult scale for assessing satisfaction with material condition, health, achievements in life, relationships with family and friends, a feeling of physical security, acceptance from the environment and future security. A questionnaire of sociodemographic and health variables was constructed for the purposes of this research. The research was conducted using the “pencil-paper” method, whereby the participants received a questionnaire that they filled in with the support of a social worker interviewer. The results of the research show us that the majority of respondents are satisfied with the treatment they receive at the Clinic, that is, 30 patients/respondents or 60% are completely satisfied with the treatment. 38 patients declared that they were not able to have an interview with a social worker. The above data indicate that it is necessary to hire additional social workers after receiving patients. Also, the results show that the majority of respondents stated that the services of a social worker at the Gynecology Clinic, such as mediation and assistance in exercising rights in the field of social protection and extended social therapy, would have a significant impact on improving the quality of life of patients.