Abstract
ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE To assess the perceptions of pregnant women about COVID-19 and the prevalence of common mental disorders during the implemented social distancing period.METHODS This was an observational, cross-sectional study using digital media, of pregnant women exposed to social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Fortaleza, Ceará, Northeastern Brazil. Common mental disorders were estimated using the modified Self-Report Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20) scale, and the feelings towards COVID-19 were assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 scale through telephone calls made in May 2020. COX multivariate regression models were used to verify the associations.RESULTS Of the 1,041 pregnant women, 45.7% (95%CI: 42.7–48.8) had common mental disorders (CMD). All items of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale showed a significant association with the prevalence of CMD (p < 0.001). A CMD risk gradient was observed, going from a prevalence ratio of 1.52 (95%CI: 1.13–2.04) in pregnant women with two positive items to 2.70 (95%CI: 2.08–3.51) for those with four positive items. Early gestational age and the lack of prenatal care were also associated with CMD.CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of common mental disorders in pregnant women was high during the period of social distancing and was aggravated by negative feelings towards COVID-19.
Highlights
The global pandemic of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19), declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, has already surpassed 32 million cases and 984,590 deaths worldwide[1]
The prevalence of common mental disorders in pregnant women was high during the period of social distancing and was aggravated by negative feelings towards COVID-19
476 (45.7%) were classified as having a Common mental disorders (CMD), and 60.6% had three or four positive questions on the anxiety scale related to COVID-19 (Table 1)
Summary
The global pandemic of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19), declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, has already surpassed 32 million cases and 984,590 deaths worldwide[1]. Of the 52,335 hospitalizations due to COVID-19, 521 (1.0%) were of pregnant women, of which 36 died. Social distancing measures were implemented in many cities in Brazil to mitigate COVID-19 expansion. These measures were associated with an increased prevalence of anxiety in pregnant women, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy[3]. In a Brazilian study with 330 pregnant women, conducted before the coronavirus pandemic, CMD outcome had a 57.1% prevalence, being associated with marital status, gestational age, planned pregnancy and bleeding[6]
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