Correlation between anxiety in labor and duration as well as outcome of delivery in women attended to hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti Medical University and Shahid Akbar Abadi Hospital

ABSTRACT

Delivery is a stressful event. It seems that the cervix of an anxious woman does not dilate easily. The purpose of this study was determine the correlation between anxiety during labor and duration as well as outcome of delivery in women referring to hospitals affiliated to Shahid Behshti Medical University and Shahid Akbar Abadi Hospital. A descriptive correlational design was used. 200 women were selected via a multistage quota sampling in each hospital. A demographic and obstetrical questionnaire, Spielberg's State Trait Anxiety Inventory, and a checklist regarding the condition of the parturient women during hospitalization, duration of labor as well as delivery and Apgar score of the neonate were used for data collection.Data were analysed' using SPSS 16 statistical software. most women experienced moderate anxiety [%53/5].Mean of total time of delivery was 250/87 +/- 150/34 minutes,%94/5 was normal delivery and the mean of apgar score in first minute was 9 and in 5 minute was 10. No significant correlation was found between anxiety in labor room and duration [first, second and third stage] as well as outcome [type and Apgar score] of delivery. Since most women experienced moderate anxiety, midwives and other healthcare workers should consider psychological aspects of mothers in labor rooms and make the atmosphere of these placed favorable addition, preparative educational courses during pregnancy is needed