Psychological burden of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic among Egyptian pregnant women

Abstract

Background and aim Pregnant women are more prone to psychological distress, which can have a deleterious effect on the mother and the fetus. coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a new and dangerous event with limited data available that may adversely affect the mental health of pregnant women. So, the aim of this study was to assess the psychosocial effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women, pregnant women’s perceptions toward COVID-19 epidemiology, and antenatal care service utilization during the pandemic. Patients and methods This cross-sectional study was carried out in the interval from February 2021 to September 2021 and included 340 Egyptian pregnant women with singleton pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic. A structured self-administered online questionnaire was completed by the participants. The validated 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 was used. Results The study revealed a high prevalence of stress (61.5%), anxiety (73%), and depression (68.5%) among pregnant women. Chronic diseases, irregular antenatal care, and previous COVID-19 infection of family members were all significant predictors of anxiety and depression. In contrast, prior infection of the pregnant women with COVID-19 in the current pregnancy was a significant predictor for stress, anxiety, and depression. Conclusion There was a high prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress among Egyptian pregnant women during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychosocial support is required, in addition to raising pregnant women’s awareness regarding COVID-19 infection.