Analytical Cross-Sectional Survey Assessing Stress and Psychiatric Morbidity in Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women

Description

Abstract (English)

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess stress and psychiatric morbidity among a group of pregnant
versus non-pregnant women in the reproductive age group using validated research tools.
Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional study among 500 pregnant and 200 non-pregnant at
department of psychiatry using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The study was conducted among
women aged 18 to 45 years
Results: A total of 700 women of which 500 (71.43%) were pregnant and 200 (28.57%) were non-pregnant
participated in the study. Their mean age was 30.1 ± 5.4 and 29.6 ± 8.4 years respectively. A significantly
higher proportion 400 (80%) of the pregnant women compared with 104 (52%) were in the 25–39 age category
(p < 0.001). A higher proportion of the pregnant women were married 475 (95%) compared with the nonpregnant women 120 (60%) which was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Among pregnant women,
sociodemographic factors significantly associated with psychiatric morbidity. The highest proportion of
psychiatric morbidity was found in women attending tertiary facilities, followed by secondary facilities and the
least was in women from primary care facilities. In non-pregnant women, correlates of psychiatric morbidity
were mainly family characteristics.
Conclusion: The study concluded both working and non-working antenatal mothers were at more risk of
developing stress. All antenatal mothers participated in this study had mild stress and there was significant
difference between working and non-working antenatal mothers stress score. Psychiatric morbidity is high
among women of reproductive age group with higher rates among pregnant women