Abstract
Statement of the problem: Because pregnancy is stressful situation that almost every women come across and much of the stress viewed in most of them as emotional and psychological problem, ( really psychological problems continued through first trimester to third trimester, overall among 14.1% of women were to be found suffering from psychiatric disorders during their second trimester, specially depression 3.3% to 6.9% and anxiety disorders 6.6% (Andersson et al. 2003; Bunevicius et al. 2009), panic disorder 2.5% (Guler et al. 2008). Similarly, Kim et al. (2008) reported 7.7% and 6.8% of the women were at-risk range for depression during the third trimester and after delivery, respectively. The prevalence rate of OCD was reported 3.5% among the women in the third trimester of pregnancy in which 0.5% developed OCD during the second trimester (Uguz et al. 2007).
The purpose of the study was To study the emotional and psychological problems during pregnancy among Sudanese pregnant ladies attending Rabak teaching hospital white nile state ,sudan. To compare the changes in these symptoms between the three trimesters, To identify the association between these problems and the age, social status, previous pregnancy experience, marital status , educational level.
Methodology: cross sectional hospital based conducted at Rabak teaching hospital using simple random sampling technique with(91) sample size. And a researcher administered questionnaire used with opened and closed ended questions using DSM IV for diagnosis.
Finding: about ninety five percent was on age group(15-35)years old. About Half of them on their third trimester, and more than half live on extended family houses, more than three forth of them on regular antenatal visits, psychological changes during pregnancy, 37.36% of women suffered from anger & hostility , 31.87% suffered from anxiety , 9.89% developed depression , 15.38% had somatization and about 46.15% suffered from sleep disturbance. More than half of ladies said that these problems worsen during the first trimester, regarding associations, there was strong association between housing condition and depression, anxiety and family disaffection. And also strong association between experience of dead baby and depression and family disaffection. Strong association between age of lady and somatization disorder.
