Views on Physiological and Psychological Changes and Their Influence on Maternity Wear Selection among Women Attending Ante-Natal Clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital
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Date
2016-02
Authors
Barasa, Nelima
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The pregnancy period in human beings is divided into three trimesters. During this
period expectant women experience psychological, behavioral and biological changes
that make them more sensitive about their bodies. This is due to dramatic body
changes, which to some extent trigger negative thoughts and feelings in some women.
With the wide variety of body shapes and sizes, physiological changes occur
differently for every pregnant woman. These variations lead to problems of comfort,
fit and sizing of maternity wear especially if not well selected. Despite an increasing
interest in fashion and clothing, researchers in Kenya have conducted limited study
about dressing and adorning the pregnant body. This leaves pregnant women with
minimal sources of reference thus relying on trial and error or copying what other
pregnant women wear. Therefore there is need for a study that focuses on the views
on physiological and psychological changes and their influence on maternity wear
selection among expectant women. The objectives of the study were to: identify the
views of young expectant women aged 16-35 years regarding their physical body
changes during pregnancy, establish the views of these young expectant women
regarding their psychological changes during pregnancy, determine the physiological
and psychological changes that influence maternity wear selection, discuss the social
economic factors that influence maternity wear selection among these young
expectant women and determine dress features that influence maternity wear selection
among these young expectant women. The researcher adopted a descriptive research
design to collect data, analyze and present. Pre-testing was done on a sample of 12
respondents attending ante-natal clinics at KNH to avoid ambiguity of the
instruments. Convenience sampling was used to select 96 young expectant women.
Interview schedules and questionnaires with open-ended and closed-ended items were
used to collect data. Frequencies and percentages were used to summarize variables
relating to demographic characteristics, young expectant women’s views on
physiological and psychological changes and maternity wear selection. Data was
grouped and summarized in tables and graphs. Open ended items were analyzed in
relation to the responses given by the respondents while the quantitative aspects were
analyzed using Microsoft Excel. The findings indicated that young expectant women
experience dramatic changes in their body silhouette, measurement, posture and
weight which they viewed either positively or negatively. It was also revealed that the
young expectant women experienced psychological changes like anxiety, joy, stress,
fear and depression with the outstanding one being anxiety as a result of the changes
in their physical body. Most of the respondents were not happy with the psychological
changes, which made them select maternity wear that was either ill-fitting or
oversized. Furthermore, physiological and psychological changes did not influence
the young expectant women when selecting their maternity wear. In addition, socioeconomic
factors like availability of money, cost of item, age and marital status
highly influenced the respondents when selecting their maternity wear. Finally, all the
young expectant women were influenced by colour when selecting their maternity
wear. It was therefore concluded that young expectant women experience different
views on physiological and psychological changes that influenced their maternity
wear selection. Disparity in the way the young expectant women view these changes
creates a need for each one of them to understand how to select maternity wear that is
suitable in terms of sizing, fit and comfort. Ante-natal clinics in Kenya should
consider including lessons on views on physiological and psychological changes and
their influence on maternity wear selection among expectant women in their program.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science in fashion design and marketing, school of applied human sciences, Kenyatta University, February 2016