Antenatal Depression and Anxiety Among Women with Threatened Abortion: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Objective: Threatened abortion is a stressful condition for a pregnant woman which may influence mental health. This study aims to investigate the relationship between threatened abortion, anxiety, and depression during pregnancy.

Study Design: Study group consisted of 121 pregnant women <20 weeks of gestation having vaginal bleeding; control group consisted of 129 pregnant women <20 weeks of gestation not having vaginal bleeding in their pregnancy until that time. Hospital anxiety and depression scale was used to assess potential anxiety and depression.

Results: Statistical analyses indicated that (i) vaginal bleeding group had significantly higher rates of moderate/ severe anxiety (28.1% vs. 14.7% p=0.010); (ii) there was no statistically significant difference between depression rates of the women according to the presence of vaginal bleeding (38.8% vs. 34.9% p=0.517); (iii) low education (OR=2.233; 95% CI: 1.177-4.236; p=0.014) was possible predictors of antenatal depression. Although in the univariate analyses age, gravidity, and parity were associated with anxiety, only nulliparity was found as possible predictors of anxiety (OR=2.589; 95% CI: 1.362-4.922, p=0.004).

Conclusion: Pregnant women without obstetric complications had similar rates of depression and anxiety as in women with threatened abortion, although anxiety levels were higher in women with threatened abortion.