Evaluation of the perinatal anxiety and its effect on delivery type in those who want to have a vaginal birth after a cesarean section.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the level of perinatal anxiety in pregnant women who considered vaginal birth after a cesarean section (VBAC) and evaluate its effect on the type of delivery. The study was planned as single-centered and analytical. It was performed with pregnant women planning VBAC, reached via Google Forms between February 23 and August 17, 2022. An online form consisting of the Patient Information Form and the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale-Turkish version (PASS-TR) was applied to the participants. The type of delivery was questioned by phone call. Ages of 162 pregnant women ranged from 22 to 40 years (mean=31.08±3.75). 54.9% (n=89) had a gestational week of 37 or more. 83.3% (n=135) had a vaginal delivery, and 54.3% (n=88) had a score of >16 on PASS-TR. PASS-TR total and subscale scores were higher in patients with known gynecological diseases (p<0.001). The total score of PASS-TR was higher in those aged between 18-30 years (p=0.027). The total number of pregnancies was higher in those with a PASS-TR score of ≤16 (p=0.007). There was no statistically significant difference between the total and subscale scores of PASS-TR with the type of delivery after cesarean section. Perinatal anxiety was determined in 54.3% of the pregnant women planning VBAC, and 83.3% had a successful vaginal delivery. Age, low gravida, and the presence of gynecological diseases were risk factors for anxiety. There was no relationship between the type of delivery after cesarean section and perinatal anxiety.