A Study Assessing Anxiety Levels Among Pregnant Women Using Pregnancy – Specific Anxiety Tool (PSAT)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i1.133Keywords:
Pregnancy-specific anxiety, PSAT, primigravida, multigravida, maternal health, prenatal careAbstract
Context/Background: Anxiety during pregnancy is a significant concern as it impacts both maternal well-being and fetal development. Pregnancy-specific anxiety (PSA) addresses unique stressors like concerns about fetal health, labor, postpartum adjustments, and financial stability, which are often not adequately measured by traditional tools.
Aims/Objectives: The study aims to evaluate PSA levels among pregnant women using the Pregnancy-Specific Anxiety Tool (PSAT) and analyze variations across different demographic and obstetric factors.
Methodology: This observational cross-sectional study, conducted over three months at Sree Balaji Medical College, Chennai, included 170 pregnant women selected through random sampling. Data on demographic, obstetric, and lifestyle variables were collected, and PSA levels were assessed using PSAT. Statistical methods were employed to identify significant patterns and correlations.
Results: The analysis revealed that primigravida women experienced significantly higher PSA levels compared to multigravida women, particularly in areas like fetal health, labor, postpartum concerns, financial stability, and support systems.
Conclusions: Primigravida women show elevated PSA levels, emphasizing the need for tailored prenatal care interventions. The PSAT is an effective tool for assessing and addressing PSA in expectant mothers.
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