The Effect of Counseling in Third Trimester on Anxiety of Nulliparous Women at the Time of Admission for Labor

Anxiety is recognized as a preventive and effective factor in labor progress. Due to the different results of studies in other countries and lack of the similar study in Iran, this study was designed to determine the effect of counseling with nulliparous women in third trimester on their anxiety in the beginning of labor. This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 64 nulliparous women who had not previous hospitalization and known psychological disease. The women completed the consent form and then their anxiety was assessed in third trimester by Hamilton Scale. Those women were randomly entered into the study groups (34 individuals in each group). The intervention group in every visit in third trimester was counseled about the different topics of pregnancy and delivery. The non-intervention group received the normal prenatal care. Then the anxiety scores of both groups of women were assessed at the time of hospitalization for delivery. Data was analyzed by SPSS-15, Mann- Witney-U and Wilcoxon rank tests. P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Mean of anxiety score in intervention group was 26.5±7.6 in third trimester and 11.82±8.3 at the time of admission for delivery and difference was significant (p<0.001). It was 25.90±6.9 in third trimester and 23.53±5.8 at the time of labor beginning in non-intervention group and the difference was not significant (p=0.25). Counseling with pregnant women in third trimester reduced their anxiety in the beginning of labor. For reduction of anxiety of nulliparous women, counseling in third trimester was suggested.