Antenatal depression and anxiety amongst women during pregnancy at tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Background: The most vulnerable time for a woman to have issues with her mental health is during her reproductive years. Due to the expected uncertainty that comes with pregnancy, also in healthy women, pregnancy could cause considerable level anxiety and depression. Objective: To assess the antenatal depression and anxiety amongst women during pregnancy. Methodology: The current cross sectional study was carried out at Balochistan Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Bolan Medical Complex Hospital Quetta from January 2020 to January 2021. A pre-designed proforma was then used to collect all the required information’s. In the current study depression was assessed by using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale while anxiety was assess by using Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. The SPSS version 24.0 was used to input and analyze the data. Results: In the current study, totally 250 pregnant women were included. The mean age of participants with standard deviation was 26 (±2.12). Based on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, mild depression was observed in 87 (34.8%) participants; moderate depression was observed in 75 (30%) while severe and very severe depression was observed amongst 25 (10%) and 20 (8%) respectively.

Factors Causing Anxiety of Pregnant Women in Delivery

“…Mothers who experience anxiety during pregnancy will affect the intrauterine environment and fetal development. Excess stress hormones that occur in the mother can interfere with the blood supply to the fetus which makes the fetus hyperactive so that the child has autism [3]. In primigravida pregnancies, pregnant women will tend to have greater anxiety due to the excessive worry experienced by the mother [4] especially feeling worried about the condition of the baby after birth [5].…”