Abstract
BackgroundDespite the vulnerability of pregnant women, few studies have been conducted on their perceived risk and protective behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present cross-sectional study aims to investigate the perceived risk and protective behaviors regarding COVID-19 among pregnant women, in Hamadan, Iran. Using a two-stage cluster sampling method, 225 pregnant women referring to the health centers completed the questionnaires. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman correlation tests as well as a stepwise linear regression model at 95% confidence level.Results93.8% of pregnant women had a high level of knowledge, 97.3% had a high performance in protective behaviors, and 72.9% had a moderate level of risk perception related to COVID-19. The highest mean score of knowledge was observed in women who had a history of influenza in their previous pregnancies (90.97 ± 5.94). The mean score of protective behaviors was significantly higher in women with a high economic level (97.78 ± 5.11), and the highest level of risk perception was observed in nulliparous women (59.97 ± 9.80). Risk perception was an independent predictor of protective behaviors related to COVID-19 (P < 0.05).ConclusionsPregnant women had a high level of knowledge, high performance in protective behaviors, and a moderate level of risk perception related to COVID-19. History of influenza in previous pregnancies, high economic level, and nulliparity were associated with higher levels of knowledge, protective behaviors, and risk perception, respectively. Risk perception of pregnant women regarding COVID-19 can predict their protective behaviors.
Highlights
Despite the vulnerability of pregnant women, few studies have been conducted on their perceived risk and protective behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic
The lowest scores pertained to Q9, Q14, Q15, Q16
93.8% of pregnant women had a high level of knowledge related to COVID-19. 97.3% of the participants had high performance in preventive behaviors, and 72.9% of pregnant women had a moderate level of risk perception related to the disease (Table 2)
Summary
Despite the vulnerability of pregnant women, few studies have been conducted on their perceived risk and protective behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19, which has become a pervasive epidemic, is a serious public health emergency that is deadly, especially in vulnerable populations and Pregnant women and their fetuses are at high risk during the outbreak of infectious diseases [5]. Previous data from SARS and MERS infections show that clinical findings during pregnancy can range from mild symptoms to severe illness and death [7]. It seems that coronavirus infection in the third trimester of pregnancy increases the risk of premature rupture of the membranes, Aghababaei et al Middle East Fertility Society Journal (2020) 25:29 preterm labor, fetal tachycardia, and fetal distress [8,9,10]. Some evaluate the given instructions based on their views and experiences and change them if they do not feel useful, but some women carefully follow the treatment plans and welcome health care to reduce the risk [11]
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