ANTENATAL ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN ATTENDING TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, MARDAN, PAKISTAN

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of anxiety and depression among pregnant women attending antenatal out-patient department of a public hospital based in Mardan, Pakistan. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Bacha Khan Teaching Hospital and Mardan Medical Complex, Mardan from October 2017 to April 2018. The study included 212 pregnant women during their routine antenatal checkup with the gynecologist during all three trimesters of pregnancy. Convenience sampling method was used and structured interview was conducted to obtain demographic information. Hamilton Depression rating scale and Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A) was used to assess symptoms of depression and anxiety respectively. RESULTS: Out of 212 pregnant women, most were uneducated (n=96, 45.3%), housewives (n=182, 85.8%), from rural area (n=114, 53.8%), in 3rd trimester of pregnancy (n=132, 62.3%), having planned pregnancy (n=174, 82.1%) and desirous of male child (n=94, 44.3%). Mean age of women was 25.55±5.52 years. Mild depression was present among 68 (32.1%), moderate depression in 64 (30.2%), severe depression in 24 (11.3%) and very severe depression in 20 (9.4%) women. According to HAM-A scores, 70 (33%) of the participants scored in normal range, 44 (20.8%) lied in mild anxiety range, 62 (29.2%) lied in moderate anxiety while 36 (17%) lied in severe anxiety range. Levels of depression and anxiety were highest among women of third trimester. CONCLUSION: Frequency of anxiety and depression is very high among pregnant women in our study population. Majority were uneducated, housewives, having rural origin, in 3rd trimester and desirous of male child.