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Women's experiences and views of routine assessment for anxiety in pregnancy and after birth: A qualitative study
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Women's experiences and views of routine assessment for anxiety in pregnancy and after birth: A qualitative study

Cassandra Yuill, Andrea Sinesi, Rose Meades, Louise R. Williams, Amy Delicate, Helen Cheyne, Margaret Maxwell, Judy Shakespeare, Fiona Alderdice, Rachael Leonard, …
British journal of health psychology, Vol.29(4), pp.958-971
01/11/2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12740
PMID: 38955505
Appears in  Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract

acceptability anxiety assessment postnatal pregnancy screening Psychosocial aspects of childbirth and perinatal mental health Women's and maternal health
Background: Anxiety in pregnancy and postnatally is highly prevalent but under-recognized. To identify perinatal anxiety, assessment tools must be acceptable to women who are pregnant or postnatal. Methods: A qualitative study of women's experiences of anxiety and mental health assessment during pregnancy and after birth and views on the acceptability of perinatal anxiety assessment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 41 pregnant or postnatal women. Results were analysed using Sekhon et al.'s acceptability framework, as well as inductive coding of new or emergent themes. Results: Women's perceptions of routine assessment for perinatal anxiety were generally favourable. Most participants thought assessment was needed and that the benefits outweighed potential negative impacts, such as unnecessary referrals to specialist services. Six themes were identified of: (1) Raising awareness; (2) Improving support; (3) Surveillance and stigma; (4) Gatekeeping; (5) Personalized care and (6) Trust. Assessment was seen as a tool for raising awareness about mental health during the perinatal period and a mechanism for normalizing discussions about mental health more generally. However, views on questionnaire assessments themselves were mixed, with some participants feeling they could become an administrative ‘tick box’ exercise that depersonalizes care and does not provide a space to discuss mental health problems. Conclusion: Routine assessment of perinatal anxiety was generally viewed as positive and acceptable; however, this was qualified by the extent to which it was informed and personalized as a process. Approaches to assessment should ideally be flexible, tailored across the perinatal period and embedded in continuity of care.

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