Anxiety disorders among Nigerian women in late pregnancy: a controlled study

A O Adewuya1, B A Ola, O O Aloba

  • 1Department of Mental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. biodunwuya@yahoo.com

This study aimed to investigate the rate and type of anxiety disorders among Nigerian women in late pregnancy. Women in late pregnancy (n = 172) and a non-pregnant control group were assessed for DSM-IV anxiety disorders. The rate of any anxiety disorder in the pregnant women was 39.0% compared with 16.3% in the non-pregnant population (p < 0.001). Although all the anxiety disorders were more common, only the rate of social anxiety disorder was significantly higher among the pregnant than non-pregnant population. Correlates of anxiety disorder in the pregnant population include age less than 25 years (OR 4.62, 95% CI 2.39-8.92), primiparity (OR 3.90, 95% CI 2.00-7.59) and presence of medical conditions (OR 3.60, 95% CI 1.28-10.12). More research is needed in this field to ascertain the specific association between pregnancy and anxiety disorders.

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