Preoperative anxiety and associated factors among women admitted for elective obstetric and gynecologic surgery in public hospitals, Southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Preoperative anxiety is a major mental health problem during the preoperative period. Admission of women to surgery is stressful, and a high level of anxiety was associated with increased perioperative morbidity and mortality, poor treatment satisfaction, and bad obstetric outcomes, including long-term cognitive impairment in children. Despite its negative consequences, little is known on this area, particularly in the study 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 An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 389 women using structured interviewer-administered samples who were selected by systematic random sampling from May 20th to June 20th, 2022. The Amsterdam preoperative anxiety and information scale (APAIS) was used to assess the level of anxiety. Data were collected electronically using the Open Data Kit version 2022.2.3 and analyzed with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 26.0. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done. The strength of the association was declared by using an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval, and a statistical significance of P