Mental Health Of Pregnant Women Research Articles

The Psychological Impact on Romanian Women Infected with SARS-CoV-2 during Pregnancy.

It is well-known that the uncertainty about the COVID-19 pandemic has an indirect negative impact on pregnant women's mental health, given the fact that pregnant women are more vulnerable emotionally and psychologically than non-pregnant women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the maternal psychological impact on Romanian women who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy and their concerns and to determine which are the best measures to prevent negative outcomes. A 40-item questionnaire was created for data collection and was shared on social platforms (Facebook and Instagram) and also with obstetric communities between February 2021 and January 2023. Our cross-sectional survey recruited 317 Romanian pregnant women who suffered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among general questions about their life and pregnancy during the pandemic, the survey included questions about their SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, their concerns and how they perceived this period in order to evaluate their emotional status. Of 317 women recruited, 91% of them had a mild to moderate form of COVID-19, and 2% had serious symptoms. Only 9% of women were hospitalized, 4% of women considered that the SARS-CoV-2 infection affected their physical condition to a great extent, and 8% considered to be affected in terms of mental state to a great extent. The main negative feelings of pregnant women during the COVID-19 disease were the fear regarding the possibility of affecting the pregnancy and the concern for their life (51.4%). These increase the risk of developing anxiety or depression. Pregnant women who contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection faced negative feelings, especially those with a severe form of the disease or who recovered with difficulty after the disease. Patients who required hospitalization reported an impairment of the mental state to a great extent and to a very great extent with a frequency of approximately two times and four times higher than non-hospitalized patients, respectively (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). Also, giving birth during SARS-CoV-2 and the difficulty of accessing medical services represented a high level of stress. Also, 47% of patients who reported difficulty accessing medical services during the illness evaluated their mental state significantly less favorably. Preventive measures are essential to minimizing the negative psychological impact of COVID-19 disease during pregnancy among pregnant women. The medical treatment of COVID-19 disease during pregnancy should be prioritized, but emotional and mental health support must also be provided.

Prevalence and predictors of prenatal depression during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multistage observational study in Beijing, China.

While growing psychological health issues among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic have been clearly validated, most research was conducted in countries with relatively lax quarantine measures. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of prenatal depression among pre-, peak-, and post-COVID-19 in Beijing, the region with a stringent response policy in China. We also explore predictors of prenatal depression throughout the outbreak. We investigated prenatal depression among 742 pregnant women who received antenatal checkups in Beijing from March 28, 2019 to May 07, 2021 using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and associative demographic, pregnancy-related, and psychosocial characteristics were measured. The phase was divided into pre-, peak-, and post-COVID-19 in light of the trajectory of COVID-19. Pearson's Chi-square test was used after the examination of confounders homogeneity. The bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was conducted to explore predictors. The pooled prevalence of prenatal depression was 11.9% throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Rates at different phases were 10.6%, 15.2%, and 11.1% respectively and no significant difference was observed. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that history of mental illness, number of boy-preference from both pregnant women and husband's family, social support, occupation, and living space were independent predictors of prenatal depression in Beijing. Our data suggested that the impact of this pandemic on prenatal depression in Beijing appears to be not significant, which will strengthen confidence in adhering to current policy for decision-makers and provide important guidance for the development of major outbreak control and management policies in the future. Our findings may also provide a more efficient measure to identify high-risk pregnant women for professionals and help raise gender equity awareness of pregnant women and their husbands' families. Future studies should focus on the value of targeted care and family relations on the mental health of pregnant women.

Effects of Physical Activity on Quality of Life of Pregnant Women with Overweight or Obesity: A Systematic Review

There is evidence that the quality of life and mental health of pregnant women change during pregnancy. To evaluate the impact of physical activity on the quality of life and mental health of pregnant women with obesity or overweight, a systematic review was performed using six electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane (CENTRAL), ScienceDirect, Scielo, BVS and PEDro). In total, 205 articles were collected, and after screening in accordance with the PRISMA declaration, six randomized clinical trials were selected. Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane RoB2 tool and a narrative synthesis of the results was performed. Physical activity interventions did not demonstrate statistically significant results on the quality of life and mental health of pregnant women with obesity or overweight. The effects of physical activity during pregnancy for women with obesity or overweight are varied due to the diversity of interventions implemented. Nonetheless, a discernible positive association emerges between stringent adherence to the prescribed physical activity regimen and enhanced physical well-being, weight management, and heightened aerobic capacity. In order to ascertain more definitive conclusions, rigorous clinical trials are needed that take into account the heterogeneity of interventions and ensure adequate adherence to the protocol.

Consumption of ultra-processed foods and mental health of pregnant women from the South of Brazil.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between the consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and the mental health of pregnant women from the South of Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study carried out in Criciúma, Brazil, through face-to-face interviews, from April to December 2022. Pregnant women aged 18 or older who underwent prenatal care in the 48 Basic Health Units of the municipality and who were in their third trimester of pregnancy were included. High consumption of UPF was considered as 6 or more items or subgroups of UPF consumed on the day before the interview, using the Nova-UPF screener. The mental health variables were depressive symptoms, stress, sadness, and anxiety. Crude and adjusted analyses were conducted using the Fisher's exact test and the Poisson regression with robust variance. In total, 428 pregnant women were studied; most of them were aged between 20 and 25 years and were white. Pregnant women who presented high consumption of UPF were 1.42-fold (95%CI 1.06;1.92) more likely to experience anxiety and presented a prevalence 56% (95%CI 1.18;2.07) higher of stress when compared to those who did not present high consumption of UPF. The prevalence of depressive symptoms and feelings of sadness was 1.31-fold (95%CI 1.08;1.60) and 3.41-fold (95%CI 1.77;6.58) higher among those with high consumption of UPF, respectively. The results suggest that diet quality is associated with the mental health of pregnant women. Promoting joint actions focused on food and nutritional education for pregnant women, as well as mental health, is necessary.

The association of domestic violence during pregnancy with maternal psychological well-being in the early postpartum period: A sample from women with low socioeconomic status in Eastern Turkey

AimTo examine the association of women's exposure to domestic violence during pregnancy with postpartum maternal psychological well-being (postpartum depression and anxiety) in the early postpartum period. MethodsThe sample of this descriptive correlational research study comprised 358 women. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Domestic Violence Screening Tool, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale. The one-way multivariate analysis of variance, and a multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to analysis of data. ResultsThe mean scores of the HITS, the EPDS, and the PSAS were 6.00±16.00, 7.47±5.57, and 72.02±18.63 respectively. Considering the cut-off values of the scales, the women were found to be at risk for exposure to domestic violence (20.1%), postpartum depression (24%), and postpartum anxiety (11.2%). Education level and having social security was significantly associated with women's HITS and PSAS score.Women with high mean domestic violence scores had high mean postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety scores. Women's mean domestic violence and postpartum anxiety scores were significantly and positively associated with their mean postpartum depression scores (p < 0.001). ConclusionThe results of this study revealed that women were frequently exposed to DV during pregnancy, education level and social security were important predictors of exposure to DV, and that DV associated with postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. Exposure to DV and postpartum anxiety increased the risk of postpartum depression. It is recommended to integrate screening, guidance, and supportive counseling practices into routine antenatal care to improve the mental health of pregnant women at risk.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Brazilian Pregnant Women at the Beginning of the Coronavirus Disease Pandemic.

Analyze the presence of PTSD symptoms and their risk among the pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a cross-sectional study of pregnant women that received receiving prenatal care at two university hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic, from April to June 2020. The sociodemographic and health data of the participants and their exposure to individuals suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 were evaluated. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used to assess PTSD and anxiety symptoms, respectively. A total of 149 pregnant women were included in this study. The risk of PTSD among the participants was 55.1%. The independent risk factors for PTSD were state anxiety (ORadj = 2.6), trait anxiety (ORadj = 10.7), changes in routine due to the pandemic (ORadj = 4.7) and contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 person (ORadj = 7.1). The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative impact on the mental health of pregnant women, more than half of the participants of the present study showed a risk of PTSD, exacerbated by anxiety symptoms and exposure to individuals with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Сучасне уявлення про вплив стресу на імунну систему вагітної

Today, there is increasing attention being paid to mental health, especially in pregnant women who are vulnerable to the risk of mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite scientific progress, research on the impact of stress on mental health during pregnancy is insufficient. Purpose - to analyze the impact of stress on the immune system of pregnant women. A search and analysis of 78 original studies investigating the impact of stress on the course of pregnancy were conducted. Keywords and article selection criteria were applied. The systematic review included the most relevant studies that met the established criteria. The findings indicate that the immune system plays a significant role in the development of stress-related mental disorders during pregnancy. However, most studies do not establish a clear link between stress, inflammation, and mental disorders in pregnant women. Conclusions. The review highlights the need for further research aimed at understanding the relationship between stress, the immune system, and mental health in pregnant women. This will help develop effective methods for the prevention and treatment of mental disorders in this population, promoting healthy pregnancy outcomes and the birth of healthy children. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.

Pandemic fear and psychological resilience in pregnant women after the pandemic - a study in Turkey.

The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of pandemic-related fear, depression, stress and anxiety in pregnant women in different trimesters after the pandemic and to examine their relationship with psychological resilience.Methods:A total of 250 women were included in the study, including 125 pregnant women and 125 healthy controls. The participants were divided into three groups according to their trimester of pregnancy. The Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21), the Epidemic Disease Anxiety Scale (EDAS) and the Short Psychological Resilience Scale (SPRS) were used to measure depression, anxiety, stress and psychological resilience.Results:Pregnant women had significantly higher DASS-21 total scores [19 (4-42) ] than healthy controls [11 (1-42) ], P = 0.001. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress was 23.2%, 44% and 20% respectively in pregnant women compared to 12.8%, 31.2% and 9.6% in healthy controls. DASS-21 total scores were highest in the 1st(21.2 ± 5.8) and 3rd(22.8 ± 8.9) trimesters and lowest in the 2nd(16.1 ± 6.9) trimesters. The DASS-21 total score was positively correlated with the EDAS total score and the pandemic perception subscale. SPRS total score was negatively correlated with anxiety, stress and DASS-21 total score.Conclusion:Pregnant women experienced higher levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and pandemic anxiety than non-pregnant women in the post-pandemic period. Psychological resilience was negatively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress in pregnant women. These findings indicate that the pandemic negatively affects the mental health of pregnant women and the importance of providing psychological support services to protect their mental health.

The Effect of Endorphin Massage on Reducing Anxiety in Third-Trimester Pregnant Women in Purwakarta Regency, Indonesia

Anxiety is an emotion commonly experienced by pregnant women, especially in the third-trimester. Anxiety can disrupt the physical and mental health of pregnant women and can have a negative impact on fetal development. Endorphin massage is a therapy that can be used to reduce anxiety in pregnant women. This study aims to determine the effect of endorphin massage in reducing anxiety in third-trimester pregnant women in Purwakarta Regency, Indonesia. This research uses a quasi-experimental research design with a pre-test and post-test approach. The research sample consisted of 60 third-trimester pregnant women who were divided into two groups, namely the treatment group (30 people) and the control group (30 people). The treatment group received endorphin massage therapy for 30 minutes 10 times, while the control group received no therapy. Anxiety data was measured using the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) questionnaire. The results showed that there was a significant difference in anxiety between the treatment group and the control group after receiving therapy (p &lt; 0.05). Anxiety in the treatment group decreased significantly after receiving therapy, while anxiety in the control group did not change. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that endorphin massage is effective in reducing anxiety in third-trimester pregnant women.

Current Situation and Mental Health of Pregnant Women During the Prevention and Control of Novel Coronavirus Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study on the Investigation of Influencing Factors.

COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which became a global public health crisis. In the past 3 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a dramatic increase in the occurrence of psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and stress in global populations. Therefore, it is important to help pregnant women cope with major public emergencies and improve their physical and mental health. To investigate the status and influencing factors of anxiety, insomnia, and psychological stress disorder in pregnant women with COVID-19 to provide a theoretical basis for psychological intervention in pregnant women in the case of public health emergency events. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 435 pregnant women from multiple tertiary hospitals in Zhengzhou from November 6 to December 6, 2022. The questionnaire contents included the general information of pregnant women, insomnia scale, generalized anxiety scale, and the revised version of the Accident Impact Scale. There are 251 pregnant women with anxiety (57.7%, 95% CI: (53.0%-62.4%).There are 166 pregnant women with insomnia.(38.2%, 95% CI: 33.6%-42.7%), There are 314 pregnant women with stress disorder.(72.2%, 95% CI: 68.0%-76.4%). During the epidemic prevention and control period, whether pregnant women had a history of adverse pregnancy had a statistically significant difference in anxiety, insomnia and stress disorders. During the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women appeared to generally have anxiety, insomnia, and stress disorders. Poor pregnancy history is a protective factor for pregnant women with anxiety, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In the case of similar public health emergencies, attention bias modification (ABM) may be a potential intervention measure to provide potentially new ideas for alleviating the psychological disorders of pregnant women during this special period.

Physical Activity in Work and Leisure Time during Pregnancy, and Its Influence on Maternal Health and Perinatal Outcomes

Background: Physical inactivity during pregnancy has been shown to be linked to an increased risk of complications. However, during pregnancy, doubts arise about what type, intensity and frequency of physical activity are most recommended. Objective: Our main objective was to know the level of physical activity (PA) and sedentary lifestyle in a representative sample of pregnant women in Málaga, one of the most populated cities in Spain. Also, we aimed to find out the effects of PA on obstetric and perinatal outcomes and on the mental health of pregnant women, differentiated according to PA intensity and domain. Methods: Five hundred and forty full-term pregnant women who had their obstetric checks in the maternity ward of the Regional University Hospital of Málaga were recruited through consecutive sampling. Participants answered a questionnaire that included the WHO Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), the Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and some other sociodemographic and health-related questions. Subsequently, information about perinatal outcomes was obtained after birth. Results: Only 50.8% of women followed the WHO recommendations on activity. We found a high proportion of obese pregnant women and a direct effect of a sedentary lifestyle on the rate of cesarean sections and vulvovaginal tears in spontaneous births, as well as on the mental health of future mothers. Women’s age, the number of children, BMI at the beginning of pregnancy and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) explained anxiety scores, and age, LTPA, BMI at the end of pregnancy and intense work-related physical activity (WTPA) predicted depression scores. Conclusions: LTPA improves obstetric outcomes, helping to reduce the rate of cesarean sections and vulvovaginal tears, as well as reducing prenatal anxiety and depression.

Study on the positivity rate and influencing factors of anxiety in pregnant women during the first fetal magnetic resonance examination: A cross-sectional study.

This study investigated the positive rate and related influencing factors of anxiety screening in pregnant women during the first fetal magnetic resonance examination. A total of 303 pregnant women who met the criteria for magnetic resonance pregnancy examination in a Grade III maternity hospital from December 2021 to December 2022 were included by the convenience sampling method. A cross-sectional survey was conducted before the examination using the General Situation Questionnaire and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). The positive rate of anxiety was 31.02% (94/303), and the average score of anxiety was 45.71±9.84. Univariate analysis results showed that age, educational level, occupation, place of residence, per capita monthly income, and number of pregnancies were related to the anxiety status of pregnant women in the fetal magnetic resonance examination (P<0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the factor of college degree [OR: 2.168, 95% CI: (1.119, 4.273)] in the classification of cultural level and country factor [OR: 2.162, 95% CI: (1.066, 4.385)] in the classification of place of residence had an impact on the anxiety score of pregnant women in the fetal magnetic resonance examination (P<0.05). The positive rate of anxiety screening of pregnant women before the first prenatal magnetic resonance examination is high. A low education level and living in the countryside will increase the probability of anxiety in pregnant women during magnetic resonance examination. Based on the above research results, it is suggested that medical institutions pay attention to the mental health of pregnant women, improve mental health care services, and reduce the adverse psychological problems caused by prenatal examination.

Impact of Pregnancy on Self-Efficacy and Personal Competence in the Context of Risk of Depression, Mental Health Status, and Satisfaction with Life.

A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 2017 women surveyed, including 584 pregnant women, 528 postpartum women, and 906 women who had never been pregnant (the comparative group) from Poland, Greece, Turkey, Belarus, and Russia. The sample selection was purposive. Surveys were collected between November 2021 and December 2022. The study used the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), the GHQ-28 (General Health Questionnaire), the Schwarzer Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and the KompOs Personal Competence Scale. A significantly lower risk of depression was observed in postpartum women in Poland and amongst pregnant women in Turkey. Pregnant women in Turkey (28.9 points) presented the highest satisfaction with life, while the lowest satisfaction was found amongst pregnant women in Poland and Greece (25.2 and 25.1 points, respectively). In Poland and Belarus, a higher risk of depression was noticed in women who had undergone an artificial abortion. In Turkey, a positive correlation was found in pregnant women concerning the number of children they had with a measure of depression and a negative correlation with life satisfaction. In Greece, non-pregnant women showed no correlation between mental status and scores on the GSES. Scores on satisfaction with SWLS were positively correlated with a sense of power, and the strength of the correlation was similar to results on the BDI and GHQ measures. Postpartum depression, according to the EPDS, was also the most severe in Turkish women. The highest risk of depression was shown in the control group and amongst pregnant and postpartum women in Turkey and Greece, and the lowest such risk was in Poland. Pregnant and postpartum women showed by far the highest satisfaction with life in Turkey and the lowest in women from Greece. The risk of depression, the level of satisfaction with life, and the mental health of pregnant women were not influenced by the type of last delivery. However, the duration of the last delivery influenced the group from Belarus, and having children affected the mental health of women in the group from Turkey.

The relationship between pregnancy stress and mental health of the pregnant women: the bidirectional chain mediation roles of mindfulness and peace of mind.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pregnancy stress and mental health of the pregnant women, employing a positive psychology perspective. Specifically, the study sought to explore how the two positive psychological qualities of mindfulness and peace of mind may serve as potential mediators in the association between pregnancy stress and mental health of the pregnant women. Seven hundreds and thirteen pregnant women seeking care at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University were included in this study. The participants completed a self-report demographic questionnaire, as well as several validated scales including the Pregnancy Pressure Scale (PPS), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Peace of Mind Scale (PoMS), and Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ). The Amos 23.0 system was utilized to construct structural equation models. A total of 713 participants had an average age of 29.46 ± 4.81 years and an average gestational age of 24.26 ± 22.66 weeks. Out of the pregnant women, 163 (22.9%) experienced moderate or higher levels of pregnancy stress (PPS > 1), while 212 (29.7%) exhibited mental distress (CHQ > 3). Pregnancy stress exhibited a positive association with mental distress, while displaying negative associations with mindfulness and peace of mind. Mindfulness and peace of mind were negatively associated with mental distress. By employing structural equation modeling, the analysis revealed that mindfulness and peace of mind acted as partial mediators in the relationship between pregnancy stress and mental health. Furthermore, the identified models exhibited bidirectional sequential mediating pathways, suggesting that the pathways of mindfulness ↔ peace of mind mitigated the harmful influence of pregnancy stress on the mental health of pregnant women. This study adds to the current body of knowledge by investigating the relationships among mindfulness, peace of mind, pregnancy stress, and mental health in pregnant women. From a positive psychology framework, it provides valuable understanding of the intricate dynamics between pregnancy stress and protective factors of mental health. Consequently, interventions aimed at bolstering positive psychological qualities in pregnant women should prioritize the cultivation of mindfulness to foster peace of mind, or alternatively, the cultivation of peace of mind to enhance mindfulness, ultimately leading to improved mental health outcomes.

Family Functioning as a Predictor of Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy

Family support may be a protective factor against mental health issues during pregnancy. Little is known about the effect of family function on the mental health of pregnant women. This study aimed to examine the relationship between family functioning and the mental health of pregnant women. The research was conducted with 184 pregnant women. During prenatal care appointments, the participants completed five questionnaires: Family Assessment Device (FAD), State-Anxiety Inventory (SAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Prenatal Coping Inventory (Nu-PCI), and Revised Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (NuPDQ). The participants’ mean age was 27.2 (SD = 5.2) years, with a range between 18 and 45 years. No association was found between demographic variables and anxiety/depression or coping strategies. Family dysfunction was a positive determinant of depression (β = 0.345, p < .001) and anxiety (β = 0.199, p = .007). However, family dysfunction was negatively associated with coping planning (β = −0.192, p = .009) and spiritual coping (β = −0.154, p = .037). Our findings suggest that during prenatal care visits, healthcare providers should consider the negative impact of family dysfunction on the mental health of pregnant women.

Prevalence and associated factors of prenatal depression in pregnant Korean women during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

This study investigated the effects of prenatal education characteristics, pandemic-related pregnancy stress, and health behaviors during pregnancy on prenatal depression in pregnant women during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The participants were 180 pregnant Korean women, recruited from internet communities for pregnancy preparation, childbirth, and childcare, from July 5 to 15, 2022. The collected data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, the Mann-Whitney U-test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and multiple regression analysis. The scores for pandemic-related pregnancy stress (24.50±6.37) and health behaviors during pregnancy (67.07±9.20) were high. Nearly half of the participants (n=89, 49.4%) presented with prenatal depression, with scores of 10 or greater. Prenatal depression had a positive correlation with gestational age (r=.18, p=.019) and pandemic-related pregnancy stress (r=.27, p<.001), and a negative correlation with health behaviors during pregnancy (r=-.42, p<.001). The factors associated with prenatal depression were pandemic-related pregnancy stress (t=4.70, p<.001), marital satisfaction (dissatisfied) (t=3.66, p<.001), pregnancy healthcare practice behaviors (t=-3.31, p=.001), family type (weekend couple) (t=2.84, p=.005), and gestational age (t=2.32, p=.022). The explanatory power of these variables was 38.2%. Since participants had a high level of prenatal depression during the pandemic, and infectious diseases such as COVID-19 may recur, strategies should be developed to improve pregnant women's mental health with consideration of the unique variables that are relevant in a pandemic. It is also necessary to develop efficient online prenatal education programs that can be implemented even in special circumstances such as social distancing, and to evaluate their effectiveness.

Bushfires and Mothers' Mental Health in Pregnancy and Recent Post-Partum.

The compounding effects of climate change catastrophes such as bushfires and pandemics impose significant burden on individuals, societies, and their economies. The enduring effects of such syndemics on mental health remain poorly understood, particularly for at-risk populations (e.g., pregnant women and newborns). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of direct and indirect exposure to the 2019/20 Australian Capital Territory and South-Eastern New South Wales bushfires followed by COVID-19 on the mental health and wellbeing of pregnant women and mothers with newborn babies. All women who were pregnant, had given birth, or were within three months of conceiving during the 2019/2020 bushfires, lived within the catchment area, and provided consent were invited to participate. Those who consented were asked to complete three online surveys. Mental health was assessed with the DASS-21 and the WHO-5. Bushfire, smoke, and COVID-19 exposures were assessed by self-report. Cross-sectional associations between exposures and mental health measures were tested with hierarchical regression models. Of the women who participated, and had minimum data (n = 919), most (>75%) reported at least one acute bushfire exposure and 63% reported severe smoke exposure. Compared to Australian norms, participants had higher depression (+12%), anxiety (+35%), and stress (+43%) scores. Women with greater exposure to bushfires/smoke but not COVID-19 had poorer scores on all mental health measures. These findings provide novel evidence that the mental health of pregnant women and mothers of newborn babies is vulnerable to major climate catastrophes such as bushfires.

Identification of Variables Influencing the Mental Health of Pregnant Women

Identification of Variables Influencing the Mental Health of Pregnant Women

Prevalence of perinatal depression in rural settings and knowing risk factors

Background: The mental health of pregnant women is critical for a healthy maternofetal outcome. Although postnatal depression has received a lot of attention, recent literature has indicated a large burden of the condition in the antenatal period, emphasizing its serious and long-term effects on both mother and infant. Methodology: This cross sectional study conducted over 100 healthy perinatal women attending Obst. OPD. Questionnaire 1 based on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and Questionnaire 2 was used to screen all the study participants for depression and potential social and familial factors leading to the depression. Results: In study group of 100 patients 53 were antenatal (&gt;28 wks of gestation) and 47 were postnatal (within 2 weeks of delivery). The prevalence of depression in present study was 19% (95%CI:14.0-22.0%) and was more in antenatal than in postnatal participants. The mean age of the participants was 25.02 ±7 yrs, 91% women were housewife, 65% were of low socioeconomic status and 49% were of below 8th standard educated. The major causative factors of depression among women with EDPS score &gt; 10 includes violence at home, unhealthy familial relationship, and desire for male baby. Conclusion: Because of the hormonal imbalance, pregnancy causes major upheaval in the physiology and psychology of women. The establishment of a mental health team in perinatal care for screening, counseling, and treatment of psychiatric illnesses during and after pregnancy has the potential to prevent or alleviate perinatal depression. Systems should be in place to ensure diagnostic and treatment follow-up.

The Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Mental Health Outcomes in Pregnant Woman: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Pregnancy stress, anxiety, and depression increase the risk of short-term and long-term health problems for the mother and fetus. Mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) is one of the most popular, nonpharmacological interventions used to treat mental health problems. The results of prior research indicate MBI has a less consistent effect on mental health problems in pregnant women. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to clarify and determine the effect of MBI on mental health outcomes in pregnant women. Six databases, including Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, EBSCOhost, Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect, were searched from their dates of inception to November 2021. Google Scholar was also used for the literature inquiry. The inclusion criteria followed the PICO (Patient/Problem, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome) model in terms of only including studies that used mindfulness therapy, reported mental health outcomes, and applied randomized controlled trial and quasi-experimental approaches. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was applied to evaluate the quality of the studies. Review Manager 5 software with random effect with a standardized mean difference (SMD) was used to analyze level of effect. Thirteen studies (10 randomized controlled trials and three quasi-experimental studies) were included. MBI was found to have a small effect on mental health outcomes in pregnant women (p < .0001, SMDs = -0.48, 95% CI [-0.74, -0.22], I2 = 87%). Specifically, MBI had moderate effects on stress and anxiety (SMDs = -0.59, 95% CI [-1.09, -0.09], and SMDs = -0.55, 95% CI [-1.00, -0.10], respectively) and no significant effect on depression (SMDs = -0.33, 95% CI [-0.74, 0.08]). MBIs have a small but notable effect on mental health in pregnant women. The high heterogeneity found in this review may reflect the different types and durations of interventions used. Notably, none of the studies in the review examined intervention effects by trimester. Future research should use larger sample sizes and assess the effects of therapy for each trimester of pregnancy.