RESUMO
Purpose: Untreated stress, anxiety, and depression during the perinatal period can lead to adverse maternal and infant outcomes. Yoga, the practice of body-mind-spirit techniques has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Aims: The aim of the study was to examine the feasibility and limited efficacy of the 4-week practice of pregnancy tele-yoga module (PTYM) delivered and monitored through an online platform. Methodology: A multicentric, open-label, exploratory study was conducted in the antenatal clinics (ANCs) of three tertiary care hospitals in India. Pregnant women between 13 and 32 weeks of gestation were invited to participate. PTYM was taught by the trained research staff. A YouTube link demonstrating the PTYM developed by the researchers was shared with consenting participants. Using the Yoga Performance Assessment (YPA), research staff monitored the online performance of the PTYM. Pre- and postintervention, women were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Results: Preintervention, among 162 consented pregnant women, anxiety (62.34%) was the most common mental health condition, followed by stress (55.55%) and depression (45.67%). YPA at the end of week 1, week 2, week 3, and week 4 was 19.45, 21.35, 24.15, and 28.45, respectively. Postintervention anxiety, stress, and depression persisted in 19.78%, 11.44%, and 10.41% of women. Pregnant women with stress (DASS-21 ≥15; n = 90), anxiety (DASS-21 ≥8; n = 101), and depressive (DASS-21 ≥10; n = 74) symptoms after undergoing 4 weeks of PTYM reported significant reduction in the scores. Conclusion: The current study demonstrated the feasibility and limited efficacy of PTYM in ANCs of a tertiary care hospital in India.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pregnancy is a developmental period demanding special adjustments. Psychologically, pregnancy can be associated with positive preparedness in some and fear of childbirth or doubts of mothering role in others. Anxiety and depression during pregnancy can have negative implications on its outcome. The current study aims to provide insight into factors influencing maternal preparedness for motherhood. METHODOLOGY: Hundred first time pregnant women were enrolled after written informed consent and ethical approval. The Pregnancy Experiences Scale-Brief Version was used to study maternal rating of uplifts and hassles experiences specific to pregnancy, indicating affective valence toward the pregnancy. Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ-R) helped to identify pregnancy-specific anxiety and depressive symptoms were screened using Whooley's Questions. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 15.30 (170107). RESULTS: The mean age of the women was 23.1 years. More than half of the pregnancies were unplanned, and the mean duration of pregnancy was 6.8 months. The positive experience was reported more than a negative experience. Negative valence increased in the presence of psychosocial stressors. On PRAQ-R, anxiety symptoms were reported by 52% of the patients, especially high on the domain of "fear of giving birth" and increased with trimester. Depressive symptoms were reported by 23% of the women. CONCLUSION: Advanced gestation, presence of stressors, past psychiatric illness, ANC complications, and the presence of anxiety/depression influence maternal preparedness for motherhood. There is a need of sensitizing the doctors, nurses, health-care workers, and relatives regarding screening, referral of unmet psychological needs of pregnant women to help new mothers to adjust with their motherhood positively.
