African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery ISSN 2198-4638 Vol. 2 (6), pp. 187-193, June, 2015. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The prevalence of pregnancy-specific anxiety across the three trimesters of pregnancy, postnatal period and its relationship with labour outcomes

*¹Rakesh Madhuri, Nita Jinnah², Muhammed Abdullah and Mukesh Mistry²

¹Department of Maternal and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India.

²Department of Maternal and Child Health Nursing College of Nursing, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 18 May, 2015

Abstract

Pregnancy-specific anxiety is a key predictor of unfavorable labour outcomes; very few studies have explored pregnancy-specific anxiety as opposed to general anxiety. To determine the prevalence of pregnancy-specific anxiety across the three trimesters of pregnancy and postnatal period and to relate anxiety with labour outcomes. With ethical approval, a prospective cohort study was conducted among 500 low risk pregnant women of 18-35 years, in Kerala-India from 2004 - 2005. Anxiety measured using State Trait Anxiety Inventory and Pregnancy-Specific Anxiety Inventory and labour outcomes noted. A U-pattern display of pregnancy specific anxiety was reported across trimesters of pregnancy with highest anxiety among nulliparous childbearing women (M=134.40). Unfavorable labour outcomes such as prolonged labour, preterm labour, low birth weight and unplanned caesarean sections were associated with high pregnancy - specific anxiety. The findings suggest that pregnancy anxiety is a core predictor of many adverse labour outcomes. A routine screening of pregnancy anxiety needs to be integrated into prenatal care. Specific interventions to minimize adverse labour outcomes could be a future research area.

Keywords: Prenatal care; anxiety; depression; pregnancy outcome; pregnancy anxiety