DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS AMONG FEMALES UNDERGOING CESAREAN SECTION IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Cesarean section (CS) is a prevalent surgical procedure employed to avert obstetric complications. However, it is frequently accompanied by psychological sequelae including depression, anxiety, and stress. These concerns are especially pronounced in low-resource settings such as Pakistan, where routine mental health screening is often neglected in perinatal care. Objective: To determine the prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, and stress among women undergoing cesarean section and to explore their association with demographic and obstetric variables. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Settings: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. Duration of Study: Six months from July to December 2024. Methods: A total of 160 pregnant women undergoing elective or emergency cesarean section were enrolled through non-probability purposive sampling. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire incorporating the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics and DASS-21 scores. Chi-square tests were applied to examine associations between psychological outcomes and demographic/obstetric variables, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of participants was 27.67 ± 5.03 years. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 40%, 60%, and 35%, respectively, with mean scores indicating moderate severity. Statistically significant associations were observed between psychological distress and variables such as age, education level, body mass index, type of family structure, nature of cesarean (elective vs emergency), and the presence of pregnancy-related complications (p < 0.05). Conclusion: A considerable proportion of women undergoing cesarean sections experience clinically significant psychological distress. Integrating routine psychological screening and timely mental health support into obstetric care protocols is imperative for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes in resource-limited settings