Association between Probable Generalized Anxiety Disorder with The Planning or Acceptance of The Pregnancy From The Beginning in Women Undergoing Prenatal Care

Article Information

Álvaro Monterrosa-Castroa, Jairo Fernández-Barriosb, Geraldine Romero-Martínezc,

Shairine Romero-Martínezd

a Physician. Gynecology. Senior researcher. Associate Professor. Grupo de Investigación Salud de la Mujer. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Cartagena. Colombia.

b Physician. Grupo de Investigación Salud de la Mujer. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Cartagena. Colombia.

c Physician. Grupo de Investigación Salud de la Mujer. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Cartagena. Colombia.

d Physician. Grupo de Investigación Salud de la Mujer. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Cartagena. Colombia.

*Corresponding Author: Dr. Álvaro Monterrosa Castro, Physician, Gynecology, Senior researcher, Associate Professor. Grupo de Investigación Salud de la Mujer. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Cartagena. Colombia.

Received: 13 February 2023; Accepted: 16 February 2023; Published: 22 February 2023

Citation:

Monterrosa-Castro A, Fernández-Barrios J, Romero-Martínez G, Romero-Martínez S. Association between probable generalized anxiety disorder with the planning or acceptance of the pregnancy from the beginning in women undergoing prenatal care. Obstetrics and Gynecology Research. 6 (2023): 79-83.

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Abstract

Objective:

To identify the frequency of Probable Generalized Anxiety Disorder (PGAD) and estimate its association with pregnancy planning or with its acceptance from the beginning.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study. Pregnant women who attended prenatal consultation, >12 weeks of gestation and without acute morbidity were included. They were asked about pregnancy planning and acceptance from the beginning. They answered the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire to identify PGAD. Anonymous and voluntary participation.

Results:

702 pregnant women were assessed. Age 28.0±5.7y, gestational age 24.5±10.3w. Preconception consultation 22.8%; planned pregnancy 58.7%, accepted from the beginning 94.3% and PGAD 21.3%. Unplanned pregnancy was more frequent in pregnant women with PGAD than among those without PGAD, 53.4% vs. 38.1% The same was true for the pregnancy not accepted from the beginning, 11.4% vs. 6.3% Pregnancy planned and accepted from the beginning, they were associated with PGAD. OR:0.34[CI95%:0.17-0.67] and OR:0.53[CI95%:0.36-0.77].

Discussion:

PGAD was identified in one fifth of the pregnant women. Pregnancy planned and accepted from the beginning, were associated with 66% and 47% lower chance of PGAD. Unplanned or unaccepted pregnancy from the beginning can have a negative impact on mental health. It is suggested to explore mental health and planning/acceptance of the pregnancy, during prenatal control.

Keywords

Pregnancy; Pregnancy Unplanned; Mental Health; Mental Health Associations; Anxiety; Mental Health Services

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Article Details

INTRODUCTION

Pregnancy involves hormonal and metabolic changes that are articulated with social aspects and influence mental health. Prenatal assessment should be multidisciplinary and combine obstetric aspects with mental health evaluation. This offers an opportunity to provide coping tools and identify mothers with mental disorders, to prevent adverse perinatal implications, especially preterm delivery and low birth weight [1,2,3,4]. In addition, it allows the timely referral of pregnant women who require psychiatric consultation [2].

It is of recent interest to explore the association between pregnancy intentionality and mental health. Two gestational intentions have been proposed: planning of the pregnancy and acceptance of the pregnancy from the beginning. They are used: unwanted, untimely or accidental pregnancies, without establishing differences [5]. These situations may be the cause or consequence of inadequate mental health [4].

Among the mental health disorders are Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry. It is a problem with a lifetime prevalence of 3.7%, frequent in high-income countries, in pregnancy and postpartum [3,6]. Buist et al [2] found a 9.5% prevalence of GAD at some point in pregnancy, highest in the first trimester, and associated with pre-pregnancy anxiety, low educational level, low social support, and a history of child abuse.

Although French National Perinatal Survey [4] indicated a relationship between poor psychological health or depressive symptoms, with the acceptance and planning of the pregnancy, the latter have been little addressed with GAD. The objective was to identify the frequency of Probable Generalized Anxiety Disorder (PGAD) and estimate its association with pregnancy planning or with its acceptance from the beginning, in pregnant women receiving prenatal care.

Methodology

Cross-sectional study endorsed by the University of Cartagena and approved by the ethics committee. The Helsinki Declaration and the Belmont Report were considered. The participants acted anonymously and voluntarily, after signing an informed consent form.

Participants

Pregnant women who attended in 2022 at >12 weeks of gestation were included. Those who did not wish to participate, those with literacy limitations, fetal malformation, multiple pregnancy, genital bleeding or cervical cerclage, reproductive treatment and those receiving medication other than prenatal vitamins were excluded. The participants were invited to fill out a form that asked: obstetric data, schooling, occupation, cohabitation and opinion on the programming and acceptance of the pregnancy from the beginning. In addition, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) was used to identify PGAD. Each question is answered: not at all (zero points), less than half of the days (one), more than half the days (two) almost every day (three). The optimal cutoff is 10 points, sensitivity 89.0%, specificity 82.0% and α Cronbach 0.92 [7]. In Spanish pregnant women α Cronbach 0.89 was estimated [8].

Sample size and statistical analysis

The sample size was calculated with the EPIDAT software. In the last decade, the selected clinic had attended 9600 prenatal/annual consultations. It was estimated to include 621 pregnant women, heterogeneity 50%, confidence level 95% and margin of error 5%. Ninety pregnant women were added to compensate for incorrectly completed forms. The analysis was performed with EPI-INFO-7. Quantitative data were expressed as X±DS and qualitative data as n (%). Differences for quantitative data were estimated with Anova or Mann-Whitney/Wilcoxon and qualitative data with Chi2. Two adjusted logistic regression models were performed. One, PGAD with acceptance of pregnancy from the beginning. The other, PGAD with pregnancy planning. The covariables were maternal age, residence, schooling, occupation, sexual partner, religiosity and obstetric history. p<0.05 was statistically significant.

Results

A total of 702 pregnant women were included in 2022, mean age 28 years. PGAD was found in 150 (21.3%). The sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics are presented in Table 1.

Sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics

 

All n = 702

Without PGAD

n = 552 (78.6%)

With PGAD n = 150 (21.4%)

p

Age, y, X±DS

28.0±5.7

28.3±5.8

27.1±5.3

0.03?

Age at first menstruation, y, X±DS

12.5±1.7

12.6±1.7

12.3±1.8

0.21?

Gestational age, w, X±DS

24.5±10.3

24.4±10.4

24.7±10.4

0.73?

First pregnancy, n, X±DS

272 (38.7)

216 (39.1)

56 (37.3)

0.69§

One or more vaginal deliveries, n, X±DS

183 (26.0)

138 (25.0)

45 (30.0)

0.22§

One or more cesarean sections, n, X±DS

214 (30.5)

171 (31.0)

43 (28.7)

0.58§

One or more miscarriages, n, X±DS

169 (24.1)

130 (23.6)

39 (26.0)

0.53§

One or more preterm deliveries, n, X±DS

39 (5.6)

30 (5.4)

9 (6.0)

0.79§

One or more stillbirths, n, X±DS

14 (2.0)

8 (1.4)

6 (4.0)

0.05§

Adolescent pregnant women, n (%)

40 (5.7)

29 (5.3)

11 (7.3)

0.33§

Preconception consultation, n (%)

160 (22.8)

131 (23.7)

29 (19.3)

0.26§

Pregnancy accepted from the beginning, n (%)

662 (94.3)

529 (95.8)

133 (88.7)

<0.001§

Planned pregnancy, n (%)

412 (58.7)

342 (62.0)

70 (46.7)

<0.001§

Residence in urban areas, n (%)

651 (92.8)

514 (93.1)

137 (91.3)

0.45§

Occupation outside the home, n (%)

491 (70.0)

389 (70.5)

102 (68.0)

0.55§

With stable sexual partner, n (%)

654 (93.2)

518 (93.8)

136 (90.7)

0.17§

Practicing any religion, n (%)

654 (93.2)

518 (93.8)

136 (90.7)

0.17§

Level of higher education, n (%)

497 (70.8)

400 (72.5)

97 (64.7)

0.06§

* Kruskal-Wallis H. ? ANOVA. § Chi2.

Table 1: Sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics

PGAD symptoms reported on “more than half of the days”, and “almost every day” were more frequent among pregnant women with PGAD (p<0.001). Figure 1.

fortune-biomass-feedstock

Figure 1: Items of the Generalized Anxiety Diseases Questionnaire [GAD-7]. Absolute and percentage frequency of the sum of the response options: “more than half the days” and “almost every day”. Distribution according to Probable Generalized Anxiety Disorder [PGAD].

Pregnancies were not accepted from the beginning by 5.7% of the pregnant women, more frequently among those with PGAD than among those without PGAD, 11.4% vs. 6.3%, respectively. Unplanned pregnancies were 41.4%, also more frequent in mothers with PGAD, 53.4% vs. 38.1%. Accepted pregnancy from the beginning and pregnancy planning were associated with lower chance of PGAD, OR:0.34[CI95%:0.17-0.67] and OR:0.53[CI95%:0.36-0.77], respectively (p<0.001).

Discussion

We found that one in five pregnant women had PGAD, which should be of concern, since mental health alterations in maternal have adverse perinatal, neonatal and infant effects [1,3]. Children born to women with PGAD during pregnancy have twice lower levels of BDNF (Brain Derived Fetal Circulating Neurotrophic Factor) in cord blood, which may negatively influence neurodevelopment [9].

We have estimated that the pregnancy accepted from its beginning and the planned pregnancy were associated with less PGAD. Women with an unplanned pregnancy had more psychiatric symptoms during the gestational period and one postnatal year, compared with women with a planned pregnancy [10]. Both results are consistent with other studies that indicate that unplanned or unaccepted pregnancies have deleterious effects on mental health during pregnancy, the puerperium, the postpartum years, and in women's adult life. Herd et al. [5] found an association between unwanted pregnancy ending in live birth with worse mental health outcomes for women later in life. They point out that mothers of unwanted youngsters were more likely to be depressed and unhappy than women whose children were the result of planned pregnancies. They recommend providing support to women who choose to continue with unplanned or unwanted pregnancies, due to the consequences for their mental health.

Education, socioeconomics, social support, accompaniment and well-being are factors that condition the decision to plan or accept the pregnancy, and even contribute to mental health. It is recommended to encourage preconception counseling, it was only completed by 22.7% of the pregnant women studied, and to explore mental health and provide tools to consolidate the ability to plan the pregnancy and accept it from the beginning. It is concluded that PGAD was identified in a fifth of those evaluated. The pregnancy accepted from the beginning and the planned pregnancy were associated with 66% and 47% lower chance of PGAD.

Acknowledgements

To the pregnant women who agreed to participate and filled out the forms anonymously and without receiving stipends. To Mrs. Mabel Vergara Borja, for the work of supervision and coordination of the field work. To the nursing and administrative staff of the Santa Cruz de Bocagrande Clinic, Cartagena, Colombia.

Ethics approval and consent to participate:

All experiments were performed in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations (such as the Declaration of Helsinki). The University of Cartagena endorsed this project, and the ethics committee of the Santa Cruz de Bocagrande Clinic, Cartagena, Colombia, approved it according to act 04-2018. The participants acted anonymously and voluntarily, without payment, and could leave the form incomplete if pertinent. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects and/or their legal guardian(s).

Disclosures

None to declared.

Funding

The Pregnancy Mental Study project [Mental Health in Pregnant Women with low obstetric risk who attend a prenatal control program], was the winner in the 2nd call for research projects of alliances with companies and the University of Cartagena, Colombia. It was advanced with logistical and financial support from the Research Vice-Rectory of the University of Cartagena and Clinica Santa Cruz de Bocagrande, Cartagena, Colombia. Resolution 01788-2020. The directors of the institutions did not participate in the design, field work, analysis and writing of the final reports, which were advanced by the authors.

Authors' contributions

M-C A (conceptualization, data curation, statistical analysis review, initial draft review, writing, revision and editing). F-B J, R-M G, R-M S (statistical analysis, writing original drafts, review and editing). All authors approved this manuscript.

Availability of data and materials

The data sets generated and/or analyzed during the study are available to interested persons, by request and by writing to the corresponding author.

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