MATERNAL PRENATAL PREGNANCY-RELATED ANXIETY AND SPONTANEOUS PRETERM BIRTH IN ARDEBIL HEALTH CENTERS IN 2011

Prenatal mental health has been shown to be associated with adverse consequences for the mother and the child. Some studies have suggested that stress is associated with several adverse pregnancy outcomes particularly pre-term labor. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between pregnancy-related anxiety and spontaneous preterm birth. In this cohort study conducted in Ardebil (2011) a consecutive series of 241 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies consecutively recruited by multistage sampling between 20 and 28 weeks of gestation and without history of psychological disease، chronic diseases، pregnancy complications، and taking medicine in Ardabil health care centers for prenatal care. The data were assessed using self-administered Spielberger''s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS. The mean STAI questioner in women with preterm delivery was 89. 18 ± 11. 69 and 16. 22 ± 10. 22، respectively. But the mean STAI questioner in women with term delivery was 13. 65 ± 8. 2 and 11. 75 ± 8. 31، respectively. By increasing the anxiety level، the level of preterm delivery was increased about 2. 28. If additional research confirms these results، then these findings may suggest the possibility of intervention to reduce maternal prenatal pregnancy-related worries and concerns، thereby reducing the risk of spontaneous preterm birth.