Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Anxiety Before and After Cesarean in the Pregnant Women

Abstract

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Background & Objective: Most pregnant women experience a degree of anxiety before and after cesarean. Anxiety can have unfavorable complications for the mother and the baby. Given the probable relationship of social support with the amount of anxiety, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between perceived social support and anxiety before and after cesarean in the pregnant women referring to Besat Hospital in Sanandaj in 2018. Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive-correlational and cross-sectional study performed on 180 pregnant women under selective cesarean section surgery in 2018. Using the available sampling method, pregnant women referring to Besat Hospital in Sanandaj were selected with the criteria to enter the study. The data collection method in this study was a two-part questionnaire of demographic and midwifery information, perceived social support questionnaire and Dass 21 anxiety questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 16, descriptive statistics, and the Pearson correlation test. Result: Results indicated that the degree of the overall rate of anxiety before cesarean was 58.9% and in the post operation stage 19.5% respectively. In addition, there was a negative significant difference between social support and anxiety before the operation (p<0.05, r=-0.633), and anxiety after cesarean (P<0.05, r=-0.476). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that there is a negative and significant relationship between perceived social support and anxiety before and after cesarean section. Hence it is advised that interventions be designed to identify and promote the level of social support in the pregnant women enrolled for Cesarean.