The effect of cognitive behavioral counseling on anxiety and worry level of women with intermediate risk during first trimester screening for down syndrome: a randomized controlled trial: a randomized controlled trial

• Published in: BMC pregnancy and childbirth 2023-09, Vol.23 (1), p.1-630, Article 630
• Main Authors: Kharaghani, Roghieh, Vaezi, Farhaneh, Dadashi, Mohsen, Rastegari, Leila, Maleki, Azam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abortion; Anxiety; Anxiety disorders; Birth defects; Clinical trials; Cognitive- behavior consulting; Congenital diseases; Counseling; Down syndrome; Fetal chromosomal abnormalities; Gestational age; Intervention; Mothers; Pregnancy; Pregnant; Religion; Stress; Womens health; Worry
• ISSN: 1471-2393; 1471-2393
• DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05857-2

BackgroundAnxiety related to prenatal screening programs negatively affects maternal and child health.ObjectiveThe study aimed to determine the effect of Cognitive Behavioral Counseling on the anxiety and worry levels of women with intermediate risk during first-trimester screening for Down Syndrome.MethodsThe study was a randomized controlled trial conducted on 52 pregnant women with intermediate risk (1: 51 − 1:1500) during first-trimester screening for Down Syndrome and without additional structural anomalies that referred to three cities of Zanjan province in 2021. The eligible women were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups, with a block size of four. The intervention group received CBC in four sessions of 120 min two times a week by phone. Data were collected using Vandenberg Anxiety Questionnaire, and Cambridge Worry Questionnaire in three phases baseline, after the intervention, and 6 weeks follow-ups. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, chi-square, and repeated measures ANOVA at a 95% confidence level. (P