ABSTRACT
Mental health is culturally embodied in the way women give meaning to anxiety, including its presentation, symptoms, underlying cause, and how they seek care. Culturally based traditions may contextualize the way anxiety is viewed and managed. While little research has addressed the cross-cultural experiences of pregnancy-related anxiety, there are concerns regarding the cultural appropriateness of some anxiety assessment tools developed in higher-income countries more broadly. Cultural awareness and sensitivity are fundamental for successful assessment and interventions for women experiencing pregnancy-related anxiety. This chapter examines pregnancy-related anxiety, comparing and contrasting definitions and expressions of anxiety across cultures. Examples of culturally specific anxiety disorders from high-income countries, Africa, and South Asia will explicate other cognitive dimensions of pregnancy-related anxiety. Additional factors such as health literacy, mental health stigma, and access and quality of mental health services will also be discussed.
