TITLE:
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Preoperative Anxiety in Patients Awaiting Caesarean Section in Three Hospitals in the City of Yaounde
AUTHORS:
Messakop Moayeth Yannick¹, Samuel Vianney Ntone-Enyime¹, Manuella Sandy Dongmo Nguessong², Ateba Ateba Nelly Stella¹, Elanga Mbabe Michelle Raissa², Enyime Henriette Fiona Keza², Félicien Ntone Enyime²
KEYWORDS:
Preoperative Anxiety, Caesarean Section, Prevalence, Associated Factors, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.15 No.12,
December
23,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: Caesarean section is a major surgical procedure often associated with preoperative anxiety that can negatively affect maternal and neonatal outcomes. While studies report prevalence rates ranging from 11% to 92.6%, data from resource-limited settings like Cameroon remain scarce. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of preoperative anxiety and identify associated factors among women undergoing caesarean section in Yaounde, Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from November 2024 to July 2025 at three hospitals in Yaounde: Central Hospital, Gynecology-Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, and Monseigneur Jean Zoa Medical Center. We included consenting pregnant women scheduled for caesarean sections, excluding those with diagnosed anxiety disorders or under sedation/anxiolytics. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire covering sociodemographic, medical and obstetric characteristics. Anxiety was assessed using the State form State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S), with a score of ≥44 indicating significant anxiety. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed (95% CI; p Results: Among 159 participants analyzed, the prevalence of preoperative anxiety was 86.8% (n = 138). Factors significantly associated with anxiety included age ≤30 years (OR = 1.50; p = 0.042), student status (OR = 2.28; p Conclusion: The prevalence of preoperative anxiety among women undergoing caesarean section in Yaounde is high. Interventions focusing on improving patient-provider communication and enhancing spousal support could help reduce anxiety levels. Further research is needed to develop context-specific interventions for resource-limited settings.