During pregnancy and the first postnatal year, a substantial proportion of women experience perinatal anxiety, which is associated with increased risk of adverse birth, maternal and child development outcomes. Identification of perinatal anxiety is recommended in various countries, but there is a lack of consensus on the most effective, acceptable and feasible measure to use. The Methods of Assessing Perinatal Anxiety study previously found the Stirling Antenatal Anxiety Scale to be diagnostically accurate and acceptable to women.
