COVID-19 Risk Perception of Pregnant Women and its Relationship with their Protective Behaviors

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to assess COVID-19 risk perception of pregnant women and its relationship with their protective behaviors. Methods: A descriptive-correlational design was used to conduct this study at an obstetric and gynecologic center at Mansoura University Hospitals, Egypt, involving 233 pregnant women, who were selected using the convenient sample technique. A self-administrated structured questionnaire was used to assess women's demographic characteristics, obstetrics history, COVID-19-related risk perception, and protective behaviors. Results: The age of the pregnant women ranged from 18- to 35 years with a mean of 27.3 ± 5.0 years and nearly half (46.4%) of them were in their third trimester. Social media were a major source of COVID-19-related information (57.1%). Among the pregnant women included in this study, 37.8% were in contact with COVID-19 positive patients. Meanwhile, 78.5% had a high level of risk perception related to COVID-19 and 45.1% had a moderate level of protective behaviors. A significant positive correlation was observed between the risk perception of COVID-19 and the protective behaviors of the pregnant women under study (r =0.147; P=0.025). Conclusion: Most of pregnant women had a high level of risk perception and less than half of them had moderate level of protective behaviors related to COVID-19. The educational level and history of COVID- 19 infection had a statistical significant predictive effect on protective behaviors against COVID-19. This study recommended that maternity nurses should establish virtual training classes and counseling to enhance the protective behaviors among pregnant women against COVID-19