Table 2

Univarible and multivariable associations between general and pregnancy-related anxiety in the first half of pregnancy and (interventions in) the birth process, according to parity

OutcomeGeneral anxietyPregnancy-related anxiety
Low,
n=4400
%
High,
n=1972
%
Crude model,
OR (95% CI)
Adjusted model,*
OR (95% CI)
Low,
n=5697
%
High,
n=709
%
Crude model,
OR (95% CI)
Adjusted model,*
OR (95% CI)
Primary caesarean
 Nulliparae5.63.90.69
(0.47 to 0.99)
0.82
(0.56 to 1.20)**
5.24.30.85
(0.51 to 1.39)
1.07
(0.64 to 1.79)
 Multiparae5.47.21.33
(0.97 to 1.83)
1.37
(0.97 to 1.93)**
5.88.21.53
(0.96 to 2.42)
1.66
(1.02 to 2.70)
Induction
 Nulliparae11.712.21.07
(0.85 to 1.35)
1.06
(0.83 to 1.36)**
11.812.41.01
(0.73 to 1.40)
1.03
(0.74 to 1.45)
 Multiparae8.213.41.74
(1.34 to 2.25)
1.53
(1.16 to 2.03)**
9.514.71.68
(1.15 to 2.44)
1.38
(0.92 to 2.07)
Referral during labour
 Nulliparae52.053.21.10
(0.90 to 1.34)
1.10
(0.89 to 1.35)
51.757.51.30
(0.99 to 1.71)
1.26
(0.95 to 1.67)
 Multiparae18.823.61.33
(1.03 to 1.72)
1.07
(0.81 to 1.41)
19.825.91.48
(0.99 to 1.20)
1.17
(0.78 to 1.78)
Augmentation
 Nulliparae34.532.50.93
(0.80 to 1.10)
0.94
(0.79 to 1.11)
34.433.40.98
(0.79 to 1.23)
0.96
(0.76 to 1.21)
 Multiparae11.713.11.17
(0.91 to 1.49)
1.10
(0.78 to 1.31)
12.113.71.18
(0.81 to 1.73)
1.02
(0.68 to 1.52)
Pain relief/sedation
 Nulliparae21.326.61.35
(1.14 to 1.61)
1.23
(1.02 to 1.48)
21.930.21.59
(1.26 to 2.01)
1.45
(1.14 to 1.85)
 Multiparae5.56.91.27
(0.91 to 1.77)
1.26
(0.88 to 1.79)
5.78.61.56
(0.97 to 2.53)
1.61
(0.97 to 2.68)
Secondary caesarean
 Nulliparae12.413.11.09
(0.87 to 1.37)
1.02
(0.80 to 1.30)
12.314.71.24
(0.92 to 1.67)
1.22
(0.89 to 1.67)
 Multiparae5.86.21.07
(0.76 to 1.51)
1.03
(0.71 to 1.49)
5.95.90.92
(0.51 to 1.65)
0.93
(0.50 to 1.71)
First stage >12 hours§
 Nulliparae30.533.11.12
(0.90 to 1.39)
1.00
(0.79 to 1.26)
31.131.11.04
(0.77 to 1.41)
0.89
(0.64 to 1.22)
 Multiparae3.95.81.59
(0.96 to 2.63)
1.43
(0.84 to 2.45)
4.47.21.85
(0.92 to 3.71)
1.63
(0.78 to 3.38)
Second stage ≥90 min
 Nulliparae18.412.60.64
(0.50 to 0.82)
0.79
(0.61 to 1.01)††
17.214.50.80
(0.58 to 1.12)
0.95
(0.67 to 1.35)
 Multiparae1.32.01.51
(0.78 to 2.94)
1.74
(0.85 to 3.55)††
1.61.30.82
(0.25 to 2.71)
0.95
(0.28 to 3.24)
Instrumental delivery
 Nulliparae19.617.10.87
(0.70 to 1.07)
1.03
(0.82 to 1.29)
19.117.50.89
(0.66 to 1.20)
1.03
(0.75 to 1.41)
 Multiparae3.03.31.05
(0.65 to 1.70)
1.16
(0.69 to 1.93)
3.22.10.67
(0.27 to 1.68)
0.75
(0.29 to 1.93)
  • *Adjusted for body mass index, maternal age, years of education, ethnicity, smoking and alcohol.

  • †Excluded women with primary caesarean section.

  • ‡Only women under primary care at start of labour.

  • §Excluded women with caesarean section; data available for 3533 women (only recorded in perinatal registry of midwives).

  • ¶Excluded women with caesarean section (primary/ secondary).

  • **p value interaction parity and anxiety 0.018.

  • ††p value interaction parity and anxiety 0.017.