A comparative study of antenatal anxiety among primigravida and multigravida attending a tertiary care center

ABSTRACT Background: Emotions are unique for pregnancy, whether it is for the first time or repetitive, the apprehension, anxiety, or depression may lead to psychosocial health problems and destroy the joy of pregnancy. Depression and anxiety are highly comorbid during the antenatal period and they have been linked to many negative consequences for maternal and child health, including stillbirth, premature birth, and low birth weight. In general, many factors such as maternal anxiety, life stress, a history of depression, lack of support, domestic violence, and unintended pregnancy were found the main risk factors associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: It was an observational cross-sectional study for 2 months among primigravida and multigravida women in a tertiary care institute, taking 100 pregnant females (50 primigravida and 50 multigravida). Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale – 31-item questionnaire is used. Results: In this study, 20% of primigravida have severe symptoms of anxiety, whereas 52% of multigravida have moderate symptoms of anxiety. Among both groups, the lower educated suffer more than the higher educated. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of assessing anxiety levels among antenatal women. Relaxation techniques and other psychological methods will be helpful.