Anxiety and depression in pregnancy: prevalence and associated risk factors among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano, Nigeria

Pregnancy is not considered as a pathological state, however pregnancy heightens the vulnerability to emotional and psychological condition such as anxiety and depression. Untreated depression and anxiety during pregnancy may have negative effects on both the mother and the fetus. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of anxiety and depression during pregnancy. Cross sectional descriptive study using systematic sampling technique was used to collect data among 297 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI 6.0). About one-third of the respondents were in the age group 20- 25 years. The prevalence of anxiety and depression during pregnancy were found to be 23.2% and 26.6% respectively. Risk factors that were significantly associated with anxiety during pregnancy were co-morbid depression during pregnancy (P=0.01), and partner abuse (P=0.04), with 37.5% anxious among those abused compared to 21.5% among those not abused. Risk factors associated with depression during pregnancy were co-existing medical condition (P=0.04) with 45.7% of respondents with coexisting medical condition found to be depressed compared to 24.0% without co-existing medical condition. Anxiety and depression in pregnancy were found to be prevalent among the study subjects. Measures to detect anxiety and depression during pregnancy especially in those with risk factors should be introduced during routine antenatal care.