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CYPRUS JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, vol.9, no.1, pp.64-69, 2024 (ESCI)
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine the formation of striae gravidarum (SG) and its affecting factors during pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted as a descriptive -cross-sectional study between April and July, 2018. The population of the study consisted of women (n=239) who gave birth at term in the Women's Health and Maternity Service of a university hospital in Cyprus and volunteered to participate in this study. The data were collected via the "Data Collection Form" consisting of 30 questions. RESULTS: Thirty one percent of the women had intense striae. SG intensity was mostly located on the abdomen (50.4%), hips (8.5%) and breasts (8.5%). SG development time increased mostly in the third trimester of pregnancy (72.1%). It was found that 57.4% of women had striae in the same fashion as their mothers. The prevalence of striae in pregnancy was significantly higher in those women whose mothers also developed SG (p<0.001). It was observed that striae development was higher in women with high body mass index (BMI) in the pre -pregnancy period and after pregnancy (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Those women who had family history of SG (especially in their mothers) and whose BMI was higher both before and after pregnancy had more SG.