Prevalence and relevant factors of anxiety and depression among pregnant women in a cohort study from south-east China

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence rate of prenatal anxiety and depression among pregnant women in a prospective cohort study and to explore the relevant factors of anxiety and depression during each trimester. METHODS: Pregnant women were recruited into the Zhoushan Pregnant Women Cohort at Zhoushan Maternal and Child Care Hospital from September 2011 to March 2015. A self-made questionnaire was used to collect information about social demography, reproductive history, physical activity, and life behaviour at the first, second and third trimester, respectively. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to assess anxiety and depression status at each trimester, respectively. Prevalence rates of prenatal anxiety and depression at each trimester were described. RESULTS: The prevalence of anxiety status was 22.7%, 17.4% and 20.8% in the first, second and third trimester, respectively. The corresponding prevalence rate of depression status was 35.7%, 24.0% and 26.1%, respectively. Furthermore, women with a lower education level (junior high school or below) and a more physical occupation had higher prevalence of anxiety and depression status. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of prenatal anxiety and depression status was very common during pregnancy among pregnant women. Lower educational level and more physical occupations were associated with higher prevalence of anxiety and depression status.