Prevalence and Factors Associated With Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Among Women Attending an Antenatal Clinic in Cameroon
AI Summary
Pregnancy related anxiety prevalence was 23.4% among women attending their first antenatal visit in Cameroon.
Leading concerns included fear of giving birth, child health or disability, and worry about appearance.
Significant risk factors were younger maternal age, intimate partner violence, primigravidity, and previous stillbirth, indicating need for targeted antenatal screening.
SAGE Open Nurs. 2026 Jun 24;12:23779608261464752. doi: 10.1177/23779608261464752. eCollection 2026 Jan-Dec.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pregnancy-related anxiety is a significant public health concern, yet evidence on its prevalence and associated factors remains limited in Cameroon. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of pregnancy-related anxiety and identify associated factors among women attending antenatal care service in Cameroon.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending their first antenatal care visit for the current pregnancy. A total of 316 participants were enrolled after providing informed consent. Data were collected using Pregnancy-related Anxiety Questionnaire-Revised 2. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with pregnancy-related anxiety.
RESULTS: The prevalence of PRA was 23.4% (95% CI: 19.1% – 28.4%), with common concerns including fear of giving birth (25.0%), concerns about having a child with health problems or disability (22.15%), and concern about one’s appearance (21.20%). Multivariate analysis identified significant factors associated with pregnancy-related anxiety, including younger maternal age (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.89 – 0.98, p= 0.015), being a victim of intimate partner violence (OR = 5.23, 95% CI: 1.15 – 23.79, p= 0.002), being primigravida (OR = 6.18, 95% CI: 1.86 – 44.55, p= 0.026), and having a history of stillbirth (OR = 12.4, 95% CI: 1.21 – 26.7, p= 0.034).
CONCLUSION: Nearly one in four pregnant women in this study experienced pregnancy-related anxiety. Younger maternal age, intimate partner violence, primigravidity, and a history of stillbirth were significant risk factors. These findings highlight the need for targeted screening and interventions in antenatal care to address pregnancy-related anxiety and improve maternal mental health outcomes.
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