PREOPERATIVE ANXIETY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG WOMEN ADMITTED FOR ELECTIVE OBSTETRIC AND GYNECOLOGIC SURGERY IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA: CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Preoperative anxiety is a major mental health problem in the preoperative period worldwide. Admission of a patient for surgery is a stressful event, and a high level of preoperative anxiety was observed in females, and who underwent obstetric and gynecologic surgeries .Unless managed, increases the risk of perioperative complications, mortality, decreased treatment satisfaction, and poor obstetric outcomes, including long-term cognitive impairment in childhood. Despite its negative consequences, there is a little study in this area. Objective: To assess preoperative anxiety and associated factors among women admitted for elective obstetrics and gynecologic surgeries in public hospitals in Southern Ethiopia, 2022. Methods and Materials: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 389 women who were selected by systematic random sampling from May 20th , to June 20th , 2022. Amsterdam preoperative anxiety and information scale were used to assess preoperative anxiety. Data were collected electronically using open data kit v2022.2.3 and analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26.0. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with preoperative anxiety using binary logistic regression, and a P value < 0.05 at 95% confidence interval was declared statistically significant. Results: The overall magnitude of preoperative anxiety was 57.1 %(95%CI:51.4,61.5).Being gynecologic patient(AOR;2.0,95%CI:1.21,3.32), having previous anesthesia and surgery (AOR;2.09,95%CI:1.10,3.96), fear of postoperative pain(AOR;1.96,95%CI:1.08,3.53), concern for family(AOR;2.56, 95%CI:1.49,4.37), having poor(AOR;3.75,95%CI:1.99,7.09), and moderate social supports (AOR;3.27,95%CI:1.74,6.17), and high information requirement (AOR;4.68, 95%CI:2.16,10.13) were statistically associated with preoperative anxiety. Conclusion and Recommendation- The magnitude of preoperative anxiety was high. It was associated with types of surgery, previous surgery, and fear of postoperative pain, concern for family, poor and moderate social support, and high information needs. Preoperative care would include screening and implement strategies to prevent, and manage preoperative anxiety