Latent Profile Analysis of Prenatal Self-Management Among High-Risk Pregnant Women and Its Association With Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

Abstract

Background:

High-risk pregnancy requires effective self-management strategies to prevent adverse outcomes. Understanding the heterogeneity in pregnant women’s self-management behaviors through latent profile analysis (LPA) may inform targeted interventions.

Aim:

We sought to identify latent profiles of self-management behaviors among women with high-risk pregnancies and examine their associations with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among high-risk pregnant women recruited from 2 tertiary maternal and child health hospitals in Heilongjiang, China. A total of 503 eligible participants completed questionnaires assessing demographic characteristics, clinical features, self-management behaviors, and preconception health behaviors. LPA was performed to identify distinct self-management patterns. Logistic regression analysis examined the influencing factors of profiles, and chi-squared tests were applied to examine differences in adverse pregnancy outcomes across profiles.

Results:

Three distinct latent profiles were identified: “high-engagement type” (38.6%), “compliant executors” (36.4%), and “low-engagement type” (25.0%). Factors associated with class membership included preconception health behaviors, residential location, educational level, and history of chronic diseases. High-engagement type demonstrated significantly lower rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes than other classes.

Conclusion:

Women with high-risk pregnancies exhibit distinct patterns of self-management behaviors. Women classified as high-engagement type show superior pregnancy outcomes, suggesting the importance of comprehensive self-management interventions targeting all behavioral dimensions.