Association of Anxiety with Postoperative Pain Following Cesarean Delivery: A Cross-Sectional Study
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This study examined the association between anxiety levels and postoperative wound pain intensity among women undergoing cesarean delivery at TMC Hospital, Pariaman City. Postoperative pain following cesarean delivery is influenced not only by physiological factors but also by psychological conditions, particularly anxiety, which may intensify pain perception and delay recovery. A correlational study with a cross-sectional design was conducted involving 81 post-cesarean patients selected through purposive sampling. Anxiety levels were assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (ZSAS), while pain intensity was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Data were analyzed using the Somers' D correlation test. Most participants experienced panic-level anxiety (65.4%) and moderate postoperative pain (59.3%). Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant positive association between anxiety levels and postoperative pain intensity (Somers' D = 0.462, p < 0.001), indicating that higher anxiety levels were associated with greater pain intensity. These findings highlight the importance of early anxiety assessment as part of comprehensive postoperative nursing care. Integrating psychological assessment with routine pain management may contribute to improved pain control and support postoperative recovery among women undergoing cesarean delivery.
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