Results of the application of modified Hamilton scale in the diagnosis of maternal anxiety during immediate puerperium

Anxiety during pregnancy is a risk factor of maternal and fetal morbidity with adverse results in newborn at short and long term. To determine, with the modified Hamilton Anxiety Scale, the level of anxiety at the immediate postpartum and its association with maternal and fetal morbidity. A cross-sectional study including 384 patients at the immediate postpartum to whom modified Hamilton Anxiety Scale was applied to determine the level of anxiety and its association with maternal factors and fetal and neonatal morbidity. Data were analyzed with statistical logistic regression analysis; an alpha value was set at 0.05. One hundred thirty-five patients had anxiety associated at immediate postpartum, the significant factors were scholarship (p = 0.0034), number of pregnancies (p = 0.0001), occupation (p = 0.0001). Women with anxiety had more frequency of threatened abortion (p = 0.0061), preterm labor (p = 0.0001), neonatal sepsis (p = 0.0123) and transient tachypnea of the newborn (p = 0.0016). A significant percentage of pregnant women had anxiety at immediate postpartum. Women with anxiety suffer more frequently maternal and fetal morbidity. It is recommended the opportune identification of this disorder in order to avoid the repercussion in the neonatal care.