PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Alshehri, Abdullah S.
AU  - AlQahtani, May H.
AU  - AlZuabi, Hana A.
AU  - Alshahrani, Waad S.
AU  - Alamawi, Halah O.
AU  - Almandeel, Aseel A.
AU  - Al-Suwaidan, Faisal A.
AU  - Saleh, Ahmed
TI  - Motherhood and pregnancy concerns of Saudi females with multiple sclerosis in Riyadh city: A quantitative analysis
AID  - 10.17712/nsj.2025.2.20230122
DP  - 2025 Apr 01
TA  - Neurosciences Journal
PG  - 150--156
VI  - 30
IP  - 2
4099  - http://nsj.org.sa/content/30/2/150.short
4100  - http://nsj.org.sa/content/30/2/150.full
SO  - Neurosciences (Riyadh)2025 Apr 01; 30
AB  - Objectives: To explore the concerns among females in Riyadh city with multiple sclerosis (MS) regarding motherhood and pregnancy outcomes.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected using an online questionnaire. Women who were aged 18–50 years and diagnosed with MS by a neurologist and had a disease duration of at least one year were included. The questionnaire consisted of 7 sections designed to collect information on the respondents’ sociodemographic characteristics; past and current medical history; pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and postpartum concerns; physical and psychological concerns about parenthood; and psychological and social support.Results: A total of 176 women were included in the final analysis. Fatigue was the most common MS symptom, reported by 85.2% of the respondents, and 58% of the respondents had concerns about their disease and medication having adverse effects on their pregnancy and fetal outcomes. We found a statistically significant association between the level of perceived social support and patient care during pregnancy and concerns that they would not be able to prepare food for their children (p=0.037, respectively).Conclusion: We have identified several significant concerns of Saudi women with MS related to various aspects of pregnancy, delivery, and fetal outcomes. These concerns may be linked to a lack of adequate knowledge on the subject. Thus, receiving appropriate counseling, information, and support could greatly benefit these women and result in a more positive and comfortable pregnancy and delivery experience.