COVİD-19 PANDEMİ SÜRECİNDE GEBELERDEKİ KAYGI DÜZEYLERİNİN ZAMANLA DEĞİŞİMİ

Abstract

Aim: To examine the changes in the anxiety levels of pregnant women in the last two years, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine how sociodemographic characteristics have affected these levels.
 Materials / Method: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was given to 400 low-risk pregnant women visiting the antenatal outpatient clinic within a two years interval regardless of their gestational age. Besides the anxiety inventory, the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants were also noted. The results were evaluated at the end of two years.
 Results: Gestational week, working status, whether the pregnancy was planned or not, and partner support were not statistically significant between groups(p|>0.001). The averages of state and trait anxiety of pregnant women were higher at the beginning of the pandemic than the pregnant women were after two years period(p=0,000,p=0,038, respectively). While there was no difference related to age at the beginning of the pandemic, the level of trait anxiety increased as the mother’s age increased in the period after two years(p=0.047). The anxiety level of primigravidas was found to be higher compared to the multiparas. Pregnant women who were working while the social restrictions were being imposed due to the pandemic had lower anxiety levels than those who were not(p=0.049).
 Conclusion: Even though working during social restrictions seems quite risky because of the disease transmission, it has a positive effect on reducing the level of anxiety in pregnant women with social support. Therefore, psycho-social support programs for pregnant women should be kept ready in major disasters.