Anxiety Related to “Childbearing Process” Among Women

Abstract

Introduction Childbirth is a natural, normal physiological phenomenon that introduces new experiences in women’s reproductive life. It has a great physiological, emotional, and social impact on a woman’s health. If a pregnant woman finds it difficult to adapt to the changes, she may suffer from anxiety and depression and it, in turn, affects the physical and mental health of both the mother and child. Assessing and managing anxiety is one of the most important needs during pregnancy. Objective To assess and compare the anxiety related to the childbearing process among primigravida and multigravida mothers. Methodology A descriptive study was conducted among 300 pregnant women visiting antenatal OPD or admitted before delivery in the selected hospital. The data were collected by interviewing pregnant women as per the interview schedule comprised of sociodemographic profiles and an anxiety scale. The obtained data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results The results showed that 88% of pregnant women had low anxiety, whereas 12% had moderate anxiety. Anxiety was more common among primigravida women. Conclusion The study concluded that majority of the women had low anxiety during the childbearing process.