Anxiety and depression among antepartum and immediate postpartum women admitted in OBG wards of selected hospitals of Gangtok, Sikkim

Abstract

Introduction: Antepartum and immediate postpartum anxiety and depression is a major public health problem. The aim of the study was to assess the anxiety and depression among antepartum and immediate postpartum women.Material and Methods: A descriptive comparative study was conducted among 80 women who were admitted in the selected hospitals of Gangtok, Sikkim undergone normal vaginal delivery. The samples were assessed during the last phase of antepartum period and same women were assessed during the immediate postpartum period (1-4 days) after normal vaginal delivery. The women were selected through purposive sampling technique and the tools used were demographic proforma, personal profile and standardized tool HAM-A and HAM-D. The collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods.Result: The study found that level of anxiety during antepartum period, among the 25(31.2%) women were normal, 18(22.5%) women had mild anxiety, 27(33.8%) women had moderate anxiety and 10(12.5%) women had severe anxiety whereas in immediate postpartum period, 77(96.2%) women were normal, 1(1.3%) had mild anxiety and 2(2.5%) had moderate anxiety and none had severe anxiety. With regard to level of depression during antepartum period, 38(47.5%) were normal, 35(43.8%) had mild depression, 6(7.5%) had moderate depression and 1(1.2%) had severe depression whereas in immediate postpartum period 67(83.8%) were normal, 9(11.2%) had mild depression and 4(5%) had moderate depression and none had severe depression. The study reveals that there was a significant difference between level of anxiety and depression during antepartum and immediate postpartum period amongst the sample. The study also revealed that there was an association between urban residence with level of anxiety in antepartum women.Conclusion: The present study concluded that out of 80 women 68.8% women had anxiety and 52.5% women had depression during their antepartum period whereas among the same 80 women only 3.8% of women had anxiety and 16.2% women had depression during their immediate postpartum period. Therefore, the level of anxiety needs to be identified early and more concern and proper counselling by the health care personnel should be provided during routine antenatal care to prevent any untoward pregnancy outcome.