Analysis of the Relationship between Cortisol Levels and Labor Outcomes among Women in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy
EMI BR BARUS
Faculty of Health, North Sumatra Health Institute, Medan, Indonesia
Abstract
Abstract Objective: This study aims to analyze the relationship between cortisol levels and labor outcomes among women in the third trimester of pregnancy Methods: The design of this study was Logitudinal Study. Data collected in this study included age, education, parity, birth space, quality of Antenatal care, Antenatal Care frequency, socioeconomic factors, cortisol levels, and birth weight. The instrument used for this study was the laboratory test for cortisol using ELISA plasma method with the categories of Normal cortisol levels (5-23 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) or 138-635 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L) and High cortisol levels (>23 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dl) or >635 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L). The samples were 55 third trimester pregnant women who had Antenatal Care and gave birth in the same place. The data were collected for three months by the researcher themselves. The data were then analyzed using Mann-Whitney Test. Results: The results showed a p value = 0.000 (p <0.05) with the Mean Rank value at normal cortisol levels of 910.00, which was higher than the Mean Rank of high cortisol levels of 630.00. Thus, it can be concluded that there was a significant difference between the birth weight of babies with high cortisol levels and babies with normal cortisol levels among women in the third trimester of pregnancy with a difference value of 27.5 Conclusion: Cortisol levels is one of the causes of women in the third trimester of pregnancy to have low birth weight (LBW) babies.
Keywords: Cortisol Levels, Labor Outcomes, Women in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy
Topic: Maternal, neonatal and child health