Anxiety Among Pregnant Women in Federal Capital Territory Abuja Nigeria: Therapeutic Interventions

This study focused on assessing anxiety among pregnant women in Federal Capital Territory Abuja, so as to find out therapeutic interventions strategies. Anxiety in pregnant women affects the woman as well as the developing baby yet, hardly diagnosed nor treated hence, leading to severe instances. The design of the study was descriptive survey. A questionnaire titled: Questionnaire on Anxiety in Pregnancy (QAP) was used for data collection. The questionnaire was validated and pilot-tested using cronbach alpha, with a reliability coefficient of œ = 0.76. The population of the study was 939 pregnant women who booked and were attending antenatal in the National Hospital, Garki Abuja. 252 pregnant women who were willing and volunteered to participate formed the sample for the study. Data was analysed using frequency, percentage, and chi-square. The study identified pregnant women with anxiety, it determined anxiety levels, and determined how age related to anxiety level among pregnant women. Findings revealed that 20.2% of 252 pregnant women who participated in the exercise had anxiety, 8.3% had mild anxiety level and 11.9% had severe anxiety level. The researchers concluded that anxiety is real among pregnant women, that there are mild and severe anxiety cases among pregnant women irrespective of their age. It was therefore recommended that counsellors be more proactive, getting involved in regular screening for anxiety among pregnant women. Counsellors need to also collaborate with health workers in ensuring that women are screened. Reality therapy is recommended for counselling pregnant women with anxiety. These would go a long way in securing women as key agents of change in the society, and even protect the generation yet unborn thereby resulting in a healthier nation and society.