Anxiety in pregnancy: prevalence and associated factors

Evaluating the occurrence of anxiety in pregnant women and the factors associated with its occurrence; comparing the presence of anxiety in each gestational trimester.

METHOD

A descriptive, correlational cross-sectional study. Data were collected from January to May 2013 using the Hospital Anxiety Subscale and a form composed of socioeconomic characterization; gestational anamnesis; life-changing habits and events; preexisting conditions and interpersonal relationships.

RESULTS

A total of 209 pregnant women from a municipality in the south of Minas Gerais, Brazil, participated in the study. Anxiety was present in 26.8% of the pregnant women, being more frequent in the third trimester (42.9%). Occupation (p=0.04), complications in previous pregnancies (p=0.00), history of miscarriage risk of preterm birth (p=0.05), maternal desire regarding the pregnancy (p=0.01), number of abortions (p=0.02), number of cigarettes smoked daily (p=0.00) and drug use (p=0.01) were statistically associated with the occurrence of anxiety during pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

Anxiety occurred frequently during pregnancy. Understanding the factors associated with its occurrence allows for elaborating preventive measures in prenatal care.

Descriptors
Pregnancy; Anxiety; Risk Factors; Obstetric Nursing; Prenatal Care

Variables	N	%
Age group (years)
< 20	31	14.8
20 - 30	135	64.4
31 - 40	41	19.8
> 41	2	1.0
Education leve
Illiterate/No (formal) education	1	0.5
Incomplete Primary Education	43	20.6
Primary Education	68	32.5
Secondary Education	86	41.1
Higher Education	11	5.3
Marital status
Single	8	3.8
Married/Stable Relationship	197	94.3
Divorced	4	1.9
Religious Belief
Catholic	119	56.9
Evangelical	55	26.3
Other	3	1.5
No religion	32	15.3
Monthly family income (minimum wages)¹
Up to 1	38	18.2
1 - 3	95	45.5
> 3	22	10.5
Not reported	54	25.8
Occupation
Housewife	101	48.3
Paid work activity	103	49.3
Student	5	2.4
Housing
Owned	137	65.6
Not owned	72	34.4

	Estimate	Standard error	p	OR	95% CI
Number of cigarettes	3.332	1.254	0.008	28.000	2.39 - 326.73
Constant	- 2.639	1.035	0.011	0.071

Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Enfermagem Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 419 , 05403-000 São Paulo - SP/ Brasil, Tel./Fax: (55 11) 3061-7553, - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: reeusp@usp.br

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[1] Corresponding author: Mônica Maria de Jesus Silva. Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo. Avenida dos Bandeirantes, 3900 CEP 140040-902 - Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. monicamjs@usp.br

Brasil

Brasil

Anxiety in pregnancy: prevalence and associated factors* * Extracted from the dissertation "Avaliação da ansiedade e depressão na gravidez", Programa de Pós-graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, 2014.

Ansiedad en el embarazo: prevalencia y factores asociados

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

METHOD

RESULTS

CONCLUSION

Anxiety in pregnancy: prevalence and associated factors^{^} Extracted from the dissertation "Avaliação da ansiedade e depressão na gravidez", Programa de Pós-graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, 2014.