[Psychologic aspects in perinatal medicine 1980-2000: I. Pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE

A retrospective view of fulfillment of prognosis concerning psychosocial influence on the development of conceptus within the framework of the "Healthy Physical, Mental and Social Development of the New Generation" (11) as a background work for a new project called "Evaluation of the Development, Present State and Conditions to Provide Healthy Physical, Mental and Social Development of the New Generation until 2010" (No. 7346-3).

TYPE OF THE STUDY: A retrospective analysis of the period 1980-2000, dealing with psychosocial problems in relation to pregnancy in this country. NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE INSTITUTION: Institute of the Care for Mother and Child, Podolské nábrezí 157, 147 00, Praha 4.

CONCLUSION

In the beginning of eighties, the perinatal studies paid for the first time attention to psychosocial risk factors and their close relationship to the biological risk factors. For example, smoking and obesity in women occurred at significantly higher rates in dysfunctional families as well as artificial abortions, perinatal losses etc. In the nineties epidemiological studies in this area were originated. New problem areas, which emerged, concerned mainly pregnant women with HIV/AIDS infection, drug-dependent women and those after artificial fertilization. In addition to medial questions, social and psychological questions had also to be solved. An old and new theme is a psychoprophylactic preparation for delivery, which underwent significant changes, particularly in connection with presence of the father during delivery. Moreover, it should not be neglected to investigate to influence of the methods of examination on the psychical conditions of the pregnant women for their possible negative effects, as in for example the case of examination of amniotic fluid sampled by amniocentesis for genetic indication and a "long" period of waiting for the results. In contrast, other factors may exert a positive effect, as is for example the case with sonographic examination of the conceptus, when the women can observe the conceptus and its movements on the screen.