Maternal anxiety in the pre- and postnatal period: a literature review

Authors

  • Luciana Leonetti Correia University of São Paulo; Ribeirão Preto Medical School
  • Maria Beatriz Martins Linhares University of São Paulo; Ribeirão Preto Medical School

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692007000400024

Keywords:

anxiety, premature birth, term birth

Abstract

This study intended to present a systematic review to analyze the empirical studies published between 1998 and 2003 about maternal anxiety in the prenatal and postnatal periods, focusing on pre-term and term births. Nineteen studies were found; six of which evaluated maternal anxiety in the prenatal period, 12 studies evaluated anxiety in mothers in the postnatal period and only one study evaluated maternal anxiety in both periods. The results showed that high levels of maternal anxiety in the prenatal phase were associated with obstetric problems, emotional damages to fetal development, behavioral problems in childhood and adolescence. The mothers presented higher anxiety levels when compared with the fathers. The co-occurrence of maternal anxiety and depression was found. The maternal anxiety assessment is relevant to identify both maternal mental health and child development at risk.

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Published

2007-08-01

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 4 (2007)

Section

Review Articles

License

RLAE’s authorship concept is based on the substantial contribution by each of the individuals listed as authors, mainly in terms of conceiving and planning the research project, collecting or analyzing and interpreting data, writing and critical review. Indication of authors’ names under the article title is limited to six. If more, authors are listed on the online submission form under Acknowledgements. The possibility of including more than six authors will only be examined on multicenter studies, considering the explanations presented by the authors.
Including names of authors whose contribution does not fit into the above criteria cannot be justified. Those names can be included in the Acknowledgements section.
 Authors are fully responsible for the concepts disseminated in their manuscripts, which do not necessarily reflect the editors’ and editorial board’s opinion.

 

How to Cite

Correia, L. L., & Linhares, M. B. M. (2007). Maternal anxiety in the pre- and postnatal period: a literature review. Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 15(4), 677-683. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692007000400024