A Systematic Review of Anxiety During Pregnancy in the Period of the COVID-19 Pandemic Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnant women experience significant anxiety and stress, even under normal conditions, and anxiety is the most common psychological disorder during pregnancy. As different psychological aspects of the event and its psychological consequences at the individual and social levels are neglected, the present study presents a systematic review of pregnant women's anxiety levels during the COVID-19 pandemic breakout. Method: The present study was conducted in the time range of 01/09/2019-01/06/2020. The study involved searching the MEDLINE in PubMed, SCOPUS, PubPsych, and google scholar databases. The study eligibility criteria were cross-sectional studies focusing on anxiety evaluation during pregnancy in COVID-19 pandemic, and exclusion criteria were based on studies focusing on other target groups or other psychological states. The review was done according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Quality assessment was done using a STROBE modified quality assessment checklist 22. Two researchers independently searched the databases and screened the data, and evaluated their quality. Results: After final screening and eliminating the duplicate and irrelevant items, twelve cross-sectional articles were finally included in the study. The participants were divided into two groups of COVID-19 positive and negative patients. The available information and guides in parallel to reassurance through social media, healthcare professionals, and primary care were the reasons that led to low anxiety scores. The second group's higher anxiety score referred to concerns about the transfer of the disease, house quarantine, inadequate pregnancy care, first delivery, age, low weight during pregnancy, low income, living space, and public use places and transportation. Conclusion: Increasing mothers’ awareness about Coronavirus transmission, risk factors and providing online advice on prenatal care via mobile phones and the internet can reduce their anxiety and stress. It is also suggested that the medical team reassure mothers and provide the child delivery services and the subsequent care services in the houses wherever these services are available.