In Hungary, no survey has been conducted so far concerning of the incidence of depression and anxiety during pregnancy.
Aim: Besides determining missing data, the aim was to scrutinize their socio-demographic relations.
Methods: A population-based monitoring system was established in 10 districts of health visitors in Szombathely. The system covered every woman who was registered as pregnant between 1st February 2008 and 1st February 2009. 307 expectant women in the early stage of their pregnancy were surveyed using the Short Form of Beck Depression Inventory, which enabled the measurement of depression whereas the Spielberger Trait-Anxiety Inventory was used for the measurement of anxiety.
Results: 17.9% (95%CI: 13.0-21.5%) of pregnant women showed signs of depression, 1.0 % of whom had severe depression. 14.6% of them showed signs of anxiety (95%CI: 10.7-18.6%), moreover, 4.2 % of them had explicit angst. Depression and anxiety proved to be significantly more prevalent among unskilled workers, those with low incomes and unemployed women. Depression turned out to be significantly more prevalent among women under the age of 18, and those living in common-law relationships.
Conclusions: In the examined sample, prevalence of depression and anxiety during early pregnancy basically coincides with the situation in developed countries.