The association between pregnancy-specific anxiety and preterm birth: a cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundAntenatal anxiety may have long-term negative effects on pregnancy outcome. Antenatal anxiety can also be detrimental to maternal health during pregnancy. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between pregnancy-specific anxiety and preterm birth in pregnant women.MethodsThis prospective cohort study was conducted on 208 pregnant women who were referred to the prenatal clinic of Al-Zahra hospital in Rasht. Sampling was conducted through convenient (simple) method. Data gathering tools were a demographic characteristics questionnaire and pregnancy-specific anxiety scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 19. General Linear Model (GLM)-Repeated Measures test were used to study variations in anxiety along pregnancy period and tested levels of significance among inter-trimester anxiety scores.ResultsResults of the study showed that change in pregnancy-specific anxiety is significantly associated with preterm birth among participants in this study. Second trimester pregnancy-specific anxiety was not associated with preterm birth, but third trimester pregnancy-specific anxiety was associated with preterm birth.ConclusionAccording to the results of this study, third trimester pregnancy-specific anxiety was associated with preterm birth. Therefore, the health care providers should pay special attention to pregnancy-specific anxiety.

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“…The ndings of our study are important for two reasons. First, COVID-19 related anxiety during pregnancy needs to be addressed as anxiety may adversely in uence pregnancy and foetal outcomes (Khalesi and Bokaie, 2018). Second, there is an urgent need to train obstetricians and midwives in managing psychological distress during the ongoing pandemic.…”