Health Practices of Turkish Expectant Mothers

Güler Bilici; Esma Demirezen

doi:10.18621/eurj.1786522

Health Practices of Turkish Expectant Mothers

Abstract

Objectives: Health practices during pregnancy are important to support mother - child health and the safety of the delivery. Defining these health practices can help to support vulnerable groups at risk. This study aims to determine the health practices of Turkish expectant mothers and analyze related factors.

Methods: A total of 350 pregnant women were reached in this cross-sectional study from a state hospital in Istanbul during their prenatal visits. Data were collected with a Personal Information Form and Health Practices in Pregnancy Questionnaire-II (HPQ-II).

Results: Most (65.1%, n=228) were between 18-31 years, mean age 29.69±6.61 (18-45) years, with junior high school degree (55.7%, n=195), and housewives (90.3%, n=316). Nearly all (98.6%, n=345) followed routine examinations, were in the second trimester (51.7%, n=181), had planned pregnancy (86.6%, n=303), but had no pregnancy school attendance (96.6%, n=338). For most expectant women (55.7%, n=195), doctors were information resources. The average HPQ-II score was 108.76±5.36 (93-123). Analysis results emphasize a significant difference between education level, smoking behavior, stillbirth, and the HPQ-II score. Especially, elementary school graduate women, smokers, and those with stillbirth experience had a lower HPQ-ll score (P<0.05).

Conclusions: Study results indicate the importance of improving the education level of women in mother and child health care and community health. Communities with higher levels of education will also contribute to better health practices. However, indicators like smoking behavior and previous history of stillbirth can also be considered important risk factors for lower health practices in pregnancy.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Decision No: A-33; date: 17.05.2019. All procedures were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments. Informed consent was obtained from pregnant women who freely consented. Informed consent was obtained from pregnant women who voluntarily agreed to answer the survey questions.

Thanks

We would like to thank all participants.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Public Health (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Güler Bilici
0000-0001-7178-8876
Türkiye

Esma Demirezen ^*
0000-0002-9992-3264
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

February 14, 2026

Publication Date

February 14, 2026

Submission Date

September 18, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 2, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1786522

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA24JH59JM

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Bilici, G., & Demirezen, E. (2026). Health Practices of Turkish Expectant Mothers. The European Research Journal, Advanced Online Publication, 573-582. https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1786522

AMA

1.Bilici G, Demirezen E. Health Practices of Turkish Expectant Mothers. Eur Res J. 2026;(Advanced Online Publication):573-582. doi:10.18621/eurj.1786522

Chicago

Bilici, Güler, and Esma Demirezen. 2026. “Health Practices of Turkish Expectant Mothers”. The European Research Journal, no. Advanced Online Publication: 573-82. https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1786522.

EndNote

Bilici G, Demirezen E (February 1, 2026) Health Practices of Turkish Expectant Mothers. The European Research Journal Advanced Online Publication 573–582.

IEEE

[1]G. Bilici and E. Demirezen, “Health Practices of Turkish Expectant Mothers”, Eur Res J, no. Advanced Online Publication, pp. 573–582, Feb. 2026, doi: 10.18621/eurj.1786522.

ISNAD

Bilici, Güler - Demirezen, Esma. “Health Practices of Turkish Expectant Mothers”. The European Research Journal. Advanced Online Publication (February 1, 2026): 573-582. https://doi.org/10.18621/eurj.1786522.

JAMA

1.Bilici G, Demirezen E. Health Practices of Turkish Expectant Mothers. Eur Res J. 2026;:573–582.

MLA

Bilici, Güler, and Esma Demirezen. “Health Practices of Turkish Expectant Mothers”. The European Research Journal, no. Advanced Online Publication, Feb. 2026, pp. 573-82, doi:10.18621/eurj.1786522.

Vancouver

1.Güler Bilici, Esma Demirezen. Health Practices of Turkish Expectant Mothers. Eur Res J. 2026 Feb. 1;(Advanced Online Publication):573-82. doi:10.18621/eurj.1786522