Impact of prenatal anxiety on pregnancy outcome among women in Baghdad teaching hospitals.

Abstract

Background: Maternal psychological health is considered an important subject worldwide. Various studies have indicated that prenatal psychological health problems are a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity, as well as affecting both maternal and fetal well-being. This study aims to identify the impact of prenatal anxiety on pregnancy outcomes.

Materials and methods: A prospective cohort study design, utilizing a non-probability purposive sample of 300 primigravida women's data was obtained by distributing a structured, self-reported questionnaire that consisted of four parts, which included demographic data, reproductive data, a generalized anxiety disorder-7 scale, and a pregnancy outcome. This study was performed from January 2023 to March 2024. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical procedures through SPSS version 26. The probability significance at a P value of ≤ 0.05.

Results: More than half (53%) of them have moderate anxiety. Nearly two-thirds (61.7%) of women have a cesarean birth, and just one-third (30%) of them have a low birth weight. There were no statistically significant differences between prenatal anxiety and adverse pregnancy outcomes. While there was a significant association between women's age and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Conclusion: This study concluded that most of the study participants have mild to moderate anxiety. There were no statistically significant differences between prenatal anxiety and adverse pregnancy outcomes.