Reducing the Anxiety and Concern of Pregnant Women during Antenatal Anomaly Screening Tests: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objectives: Although antenatal anomaly screening tests (AAST) provide valuable information about fetal health, performed to prevent the birth of children with chromosomal abnormalities, uncontrolled stress while performing such tests may negatively affect the mother’s mental health. This study aimed to systematically review clinical trial studies in which reducing pregnant women’s anxiety and concern in the process of performing AAST was among their objectives. Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, six electronic databases (Scopus, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, and CINAHL) were searched. Data extraction was performed through randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in English, which the core fell onto designing an intervention to reduce pregnant women’s anxiety and concern associated with performing AAST. Results: Out of the 1946 studies, six were included in this systematic review. In most studies, a positive impact on knowledge and satisfaction with the information received was observed. However, no effect was reported regarding decreasing or increasing the anxiety and concern of pregnant women in the process of performing AAST. Studies were heterogeneous in terms of intervention type and gestational age of participants. Conclusions: Interventions aimed at providing pregnant women with specific information about prenatal screening for chromosomal abnormalities have no impact on reducing their anxiety and concern. Therefore, designing educational-psychological interventions to prevent and reduce anxiety and concern of pregnant women in this period is recommended.