Perceived social support among women of reproductive age attending a public health facility in a poor area of Northern Lima, Peru

Abstract

Background: Perceived social support (PSS) measures an individual s beliefs about the available support in need from family and friends, which is an important indicator of subjective wellbeing. The study aimed to determine the level of PSS among women of reproductive age attending a public health facility in a poor area of Northern Lima. Methods: A total of 106 pregnant women and mothers of less than 3 years child who visited the health center for antenatal care and health education were included in the study. PSS was measured using the 12-item multidimensional scale of PSS. An independent sample t test was carried out to assess variation of PSS across characteristics of study population and health behavior. Results: Of a maximum of 60, the average score of 12 items, each measured in 5-point Likert scale for PSS was 40.68 ± 9.46, comprising of 26.34 (± 6.42) out of 40 for friends support and 14.11 (± 4.90) out of 20 for family support. The mean PSS was above 3 for all items related to family support, but it was less than 3 for half of the items related to friend support. PSS from family was slightly higher than from friends. PSS was found higher among Catholic, the respondent who was in living together with a relationship, respondents with higher monthly income and who consumed fruits ≥ 2 serving a day. Conclusion: The study revealed a satisfactory level of PSS among the women, and mean PSS varied across socio-demographic factors and a few health behaviors in the study area.