Iran Journal of Nursing

  Background & Aim: Hypertensive disorders have been the most important issues in obstetrics. It seems that the risk factors of preeclampsia are not recognized well. However, depression and maternal anxiety could be the mental aspects of the risk factors in preeclamsia in recent times. The present study conducted to determine the association between maternal anxiety and occurance of preeclampsia, in primigravid women, admitting in clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.

  Material & Methoed: A prospective cohort study was used. Speilberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory was used as a data gathering tool, for 750 literate, primigravid women without any history of mental or physical illnesses. All participants were selected through consecutive sampling method.

  Results: The study findings showed that, the majority of sample group suffered from moderate State anxiety (63.2%) and moderate Trait anxiety (63.4%) respectively. Besides, increasing the severity of both State and Trait anxieties were correlated with higher incidence rate of preeclampsia. Also, statistically significant differences were found between the severity of Trait and State anxieties and Preeclampsia (P<0.006 and P<0.005), respectively. Results of this study also showed that, there was significant relationship between incidence of risk of preeclampsia and the severity of anxiety, in women with sever State anxiety (P>0.005). The risk ratio of preeclampsia in women with sever state anxiety was more than of women with mild State anxiety (RR=5.43). In addition, the risk ratio of preeclampsia in women with sever Trait anxiety, (RR=5.71) was more than of women with mild Trait anxiety.

  Conclusion: According to the study results, midwives and health care workers' attention to psychological health of pregnant women during prenatal period is one of the most important matter that should be emphasized.