A cross-sectional study of the predisposition to anxiety during pregnancy in Saudi Arabia: magnitude and risk factors

Abstract

Background and Aim: Under normal circumstances, pregnancy is a somewhat stressful condition, but for women who are prone to anxiety, it can be more complex. The objectives of this study were to identify the magnitude of anxiety among pregnant women attending the Najran Maternity & Children's Hospital (Najran City, Saudi Arabia) and to examine the correlates that may play a role in the development of anxiety during pregnancy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Najran Maternity & Children's Hospital. Data were collected from 410 women through questionnaire-based inter- views to gather psycho-sociodemographic, medical and gestational data. The screening of anxiety was scaled by the generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD- 7) scale. Results: A total of 410 pregnant women participated in this study. In total, 11% of the participants suffered from anxiety during pregnancy. Multivariate regression analysis showed psychiatric illness and feeling of being stressed were significant correlates of anxiety during pregnancy. Conclusions: The anxiety disorder during pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Thus, the proper antenatal care to identify and manage anxiety among pregnant women might benefit the psychological and physical health of pregnant women, their children, and families. It is necessary to consider all possible various biopsychosocial factors that account for anxiety occurrence during pregnancy.

References

1. 1.Anniverno R, Bramante A, Mencacci C, Durbano F. Anxiety Disorders in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period New Insights into Anxiety Disorders, Federico Durbano, IntechOpen. http://dx.doi. org/10.5772/52786 doi:10.5772/52786
2. 2.Alqahtani AH, Al Khedair K, Al-Jeheiman R, Al-Turki HA, Al Qahtani NH. Anxiety and depression during pregnancy in women attending clinics in a University Hospital in Eastern province of SaudiArabia: prevalence and associated factors. Int J Womens Health. 2018;10:101–108. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S153273. eCollection2018 doi:10.2147/IJWH.S153273
3. 3.Ahmed AE, Albalawi AN, Alshehri AA,AlBlaihedRM,AlsalamahMA.Stress and its predictors in pregnant women: a study in Saudi Arabia. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2017;10:97–102. doi: 10.2147/ PRBM.S131474
4. 4.Dunkel Schetter C, Tanner L. Anxiety, depression and stress in pregnancy: implications for mothers, children, research, and practice. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2012;25(2):141-148. doi:10.1097/ YCO.0b013e3283503680
5. 5.Anniverno, Roberta et al. “Anxiety Disorders in Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period.” (2013). doi: 10.5772/52786 doi:10.5772/52786
6. 6.Shahhosseini Z, Pourasghar M, KhalilianA,SalehiF.AReviewoftheEffectsof Anxiety During Pregnancy on Children’s Health. Mater Sociomed 2015;27(3):200– 26 Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences ,Vol. 9, Issue 1, January - 2021, Jumadi ulAwwal - 1442 Across-sectional study of the predisposition to anxiety during pregnancy in SaudiArabia: magnitude and risk factors
7. 7.doi:10.5455/msm.2015.27.200-202 doi:10.5455/msm.2015.27.200-202
8. 8.Van de Loo KFE,Vlenterie R, Nikkels SJ, Merkus PJFM, Roukema J, Verhaak CM, et al. Depression and anxiety during pregnancy: The influence of maternal characteristics. Birth 2018;45(4):478–489.
9. 9.Locke AB, Kirst N, Shultz CG. Diagnosis and management of generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults. Am Fam Physician 2015;91(9):617–624.
10. 10.Moore T, Pytlarz J. Untreated psychiatric disorder in pregnancy: Weighing the risks. Mental Health Clinician August 2013; 3 (2): 83–87. doi: https://doi.org/10.9740/mhc.n163635 doi:10.9740/mhc.n163635
11. 11.Bandelow B, Michaelis S. Epidemiology of anxiety disorders in the 21st century. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):327-335.
12. 12.Thiagayson P, Krishnaswamy G, Lim ML, Sung SC, Haley CL, Funf DSS, et al. Depression and anxiety in Singaporean high-risk pregnancies-prevalence and screening. Gen. Hosp. Psychiatry 2013;35:112–117.
13. 13.Kang Y, Yao Y, Dou J, Guo X, Li S–Y, Zhao C–N, et al. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Maternal Anxiety in Late Pregnancy in China. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2016;13:468; doi:10.3390/ ijerph13050468
14. 14.Van Heyningen T, Honikman S, Myer L, Onah MN, Field S, Tomlinson M. Prevalence and predictors of anxiety disorders amongst low-income pregnant women in urban SouthAfrica: a cross-sectional study. Arch Womens Ment Health 2017;20:765–775. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s00737-017-0768-z
15. 15.Ferreira CR, Orsini MC, Vieira CR, do Amarante Paffaro AM. Prevalence of anxiety symptoms and depression in the third gestational trimester. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2015;291:999–1003. https://doi. org/10.1007/s00404-014-3508-x doi:10.1007/s00404-014-3508-x
16. 16.Silva MMJ, Nogueira DA, Clapis MJ, Leite EPRC. Anxiety in pregnancy: prevalence and associated factors. Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2017;51:e03253. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1980- 220X2016048003253 doi:10.1590/S1980-
17. 17.Avasthi A. Are social theories still relevant in current psychiatric practice?. Indian J Soc Psychiatry 2016;32:3-9 . DOI: 10.4103/0971-9962.176685 Majmaah Journal of Health Sciences ,Vol. 9, Issue 1, January - 2021, Jumadi ulAwwal - 1442 27 Across-sectional study of the predisposition to anxiety during pregnancy in SaudiArabia: magnitude and risk factors doi:10.4103/0971-9962.176685
18. 18.Elizabeth R. Burns, Sherry L. Farr, PenelopeP.Howards,StressfulLifeEvents Experienced by Women in theYear Before Their Infants’ Births — United States, 2000–2010, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, March 13, 2015 / 64(09);247-251
19. 19.Güler Ö, Kaya V, Gezginç K, et al. Pregnancy-Onset Panic Disorder: Incidence, Comorbidity and Associated Factors. Noro Psikiyatr Ars. 2015;52(3): 216-220. doi:10.5152/npa.2015.7565 doi:10.5152/npa.2015.7565
20. 20.Fadzil A, Balakrishnan K, Razali R, et al. Risk factors for depression and anxiety among pregnant women in Hospital Tuanku Bainun, Ipoh, Malaysia. Asia Pac Psychiatry. 2013;5 Suppl 1:7-13. doi:10.1111/appy.12036 doi:10.1111/appy.12036
21. 21.Biaggi A, Conroy S, Pawlby S, Pariante CM. Identifying the women at risk of antenatalanxietyanddepression:Asystematic review. JAffect Disord. 2016;191:62–
22. 22.doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.11.014. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2015.11.014