Generalized anxiety symptoms among women attending antenatal clinic in Mwanza Tanzania; a cross-sectional study

Background: Women are at increased risk of mental illness during the peripartum period. Method: A cross sectional study was used to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorders among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) at Bugando Medical Centre, a tertiary level hospital in Mwanza Tanzania. A total of 380 pregnant women were recruited and interviewed by using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder – 7 (GAD -7) Scale. A systematic sampling approach was used to select the participants from the clinic. Results: The mean age of the participants was 30.35 (s.d 5.1) with 53.68% in their third trimester. Using a cut-off point of four, 36.58% of the participants were symptomatic for generalized anxiety disorder. High level of education, income, planned pregnancy and partner support were statistically less likely to be associated with development of the symptoms while partner violence was statistically more likely to be associated with development of the symptoms. Limitations: A cross sectional study was used which relies on self-reporting of symptoms which could lead to recall bias. Although the study was done in the largest hospital in the Lake Zone of Tanzania which serves a diverse population regional differences could not be excluded. Conclusion: There is high prevalence of the symptoms for generalized anxiety disorders among the studied population which emphasizes the importance of earlier screening, detection and intervention to reduce the burden of morbidity and disability.