Mental Health Of Pregnant Women Research Articles

Association Between Smartphone Applications for Pregnant Women and Psychological Distress in Japan.

The current study investigated pregnant women's use of pregnancy applications (apps) and how these apps affect their mental health. A questionnaire was administered in the outpatient obstetrics and gynecology department at a university hospital. Of 110 pregnant women included in the analysis, 97 had downloaded and used pregnancy apps and believed that these were either helpful or a little helpful. Among the 110 respondents, 20 (18.2%) women were identified as having psychological distress. Thus, the percentage of women with psychological distress who downloaded pregnancy apps was significantly lower than women in the mentally healthy group. Non-use of pregnancy apps was strongly associated with psychological distress, indicating that pregnancy apps improve pregnant women's mental health. Alternatively, non-use of apps could arise from deteriorated mental health, causing reduced energy or inclination to use these apps. Screening for good mental health among pregnant women is important; non-use of pregnancy apps may indicate risk of mental health deterioration among pregnant women. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 61(1), 32-38.].

Pregnancy-related psychopathology: A comparison between pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19-related social restriction periods.

BACKGROUNDThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted in a still undefined way pregnant women’s mental health. There are reports of mood and affect changes in the general population and the suggestion that similar changes occur also in the pregnant population. The greater vulnerability of women during the COVID-19 restriction period may translate into a greater risk for mental disorders in the gestational period. We hypothesised that pregnant women in the pre-pandemic period would have less psychopathology and more psychological support than pregnant women during the pandemic restriction period.AIMTo compare pregnant women for anxiety, prenatal depression, psychopathology, and social support before and after the awareness of the pandemic.METHODSWe administered to women willing to participate in their 2nd-3rd trimesters of pregnancy the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI-Y), and the Symptom CheckList-90-Revised (SCL-90R); we further collected sociodemographic variables and explored women’s social support. The comparison was cross-sectional. The first sample was termed nonCOVID-19 because data were gathered before the COVID-19 outbreak (January 2020-February 2020) was declared, and the second sample termed COVID-19 because participants were already subjected to the COVID-19–related restrictive measures (January 2021-February 2021). Since normal distribution was not met (Shapiro-Wilk test applied), we applied nonparametric Mann-Whitney’s U-test to compare psychometric tests. Ethical standards were met.RESULTSThe nonCOVID-19 group reported higher support from partners only, while the COVID-19 group reported multiple support (χ2 = 9.7181; P = 0.021); the nonCOVID-19 group scored higher than the COVID-19 group only on state anxiety among psychometric scales [STAI-Y1, nonCOVID-19 median = 39 (95%CI: 39.19-51.10) vs COVID-19 median= 32 (95%CI: 30.83-38.90); Mann-Whitney’s U=117.5, P = 0.00596]. Other measures did not differ meaningfully between the two groups. Scores on the EPDS, the state and trait subscales of the STAI-Y, and most SCL-90R subscales inter-correlated with one another. The anxiety component of the EPDS, EPDS-3A, correlated poorly with other measures, while it was the Global Symptom Index of the SCL-90-R that correlated most strongly with most measures. Our results are at odds with most literature and do not confirm increased depression and anxiety rates in pregnant women during the pandemic.CONCLUSIONThe ability of pregnant women to deal with novel generalised threats involves mobilization of inner resources. Increasing sources of social support may have produced anxiolysis in the COVID-19 sample.

Psychological burden of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic among Egyptian pregnant women

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.

A diszpozicionális hála és a mentális egészség kapcsolata várandós nők körében

"The Relationship between Gratitude and Mental Health among Pregnant Women. BACKGROUND – Becoming a mother, that is the forty weeks of pregnancy, is a highlighted stage of life for a woman. It is a defining period for both the mother and her child, who is to be born. Furthermore, gestation can be understood as a normative crisis as well, during which numerous psychological problems may evolve. Therefore, the preservation of mental health and support provided for women are especially important in prenatal care. GOALS – The purpose of this study is to examine the role of gratitude, appreciation, subjective well-being, and social support – as momentous constructs of health psychology – in assisting mental health in the lives of pregnant women and to explore the relations between these variables. METHODS – 79 pregnant women participated in our online, qualitative investigation; 36 of them had been writing gratitude diaries for 4 weeks. We compared the questionnaires’ results (filled out both before and after the intervention) of the experimental group (n = 36) with the results of the control group (n = 43) similarly filled out on two different occasions. The following instruments were used in our study: Gratitude, Resentment, and Appreciation Test; Appreciation Scale; Subjective Well-Being Questionnaire; MOS Social Support Survey. RESULTS – Higher appreciation and dispositional gratitude correlates with a higher sense of subjective well-being and a better perception of social support. In the experimental group, writing a gratitude diary was followed by a significant positive change in all questionnaires: the scores for gratitude, appreciation, subjective well-being, and social support increased. CONCLUSIONS – Dispositional gratitude that can be improved by such a simple intervention as writing a gratitude diary is a useful means of supporting the mental health of pregnant women and thereby of preserving and promoting their psychological and physical well-being. Besides medical healthcare, expectant women are in particular need of professional mental support, wherefore it is important not only to maintain their physical health but also to introduce new methods that assist mentally the well-being of pregnant persons. Keywords: gratitude, pregnancy, mental health, well-being, social support "

Pregnancy in COVID-19: Current Understanding and Knowledge Gaps

Aim: This study aims to study the impact of COVID-19 on health of pregnant women and its effect on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: Electronic databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct were searched for terms such as “COVID-19 and pregnancy,” “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and pregnancy,” “COVID-19 and maternal outcomes,” “COVID-19 and neonatal outcomes” from December 2019 to June 2021. Discussion: Pregnancy-induced immunological susceptibility is responsible for COVID-19 infection. Risk of vertical transmission, even if it is low, still exists. Infected pregnant women are at a high risk of obstetric outcomes such as cesarean section, preterm delivery, stillbirth, neonatal deaths, and neonatal intensive care unit admissions. Mental health of pregnant women is greatly affected due to lockdown, burdened by shift in health care to accommodate for and treatment of infected populations, thereby inadvertently neglecting maternal health care. Recommendations are laid down by international and national agencies regarding screening, treatment, management, and monitoring strategies which are aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal adversity. Conclusion: Researchers all over the globe are in unchartered territory due to the novel nature of virus, thus establishment of causal relationships will take time. However, longitudinal prospective population-based studies should be planned to gain an understanding into the impact of virus on pregnant women.

Dietary Fiber Intake and Chronic Diseases Outcome During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can cause many complications and chronic diseases. Dietary intervention has been impressed on the prevention and treatment of diseases during pregnancy. Reasonable dietary intake and nutritional fortification can contribute to decrease the risk diseases during pregnancy. Common pregnant diseases are postpartum depression, obesity, and diabetes. This paper is to review the maternal nutrition and the effect of fiber diet in patients with gestational diseases. It is well known that pregnant women require additional nutrition due to a series of alterations in the body's regular metabolic processes following fertilization. In addition to that, nutrition is regarded to be related to weight gain and gestational diabetes, which in turn affects the mental health of pregnant women negatively, hence improving nutritional intake may reduce these complications and their related short- and long-term morbidity. It has synthesized that pregnancy physiological changes may reveal the risk of chronic diseases, including insulin resistance and dyslipidemia as manifestations of diabetes and obesity. Although the direct influence of dietary soluble fiber on intestinal microbiota has been extensively researched, the impact of a high-fiber diet on pregnancy illnesses has yet to be properly investigated. Qualitative analysis shows that dietary fiber benefits to alleviate the impacts where pregnant diseases bring. High fiber dietary can control the calories intake and improve insulin resistant. Furthermore, dietary fiber is thought to be one of the dietary components that might help avoid the development of unfavorable mental health. Therefore, emphasize that the intake of dietary fiber is significantly vital to help improve maternal and child health.

Management of psychological changes at pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic

The goal of this study was to look at the psychological changes that occurred in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic, using a standard maternity clinic as an example, and to develop ways to handle the mental health issues that were discovered. Considering all of the above, there is an urgent need for a detailed study on mental health of pregnant women during pandemic and the search for the ways to reduce the impact of quarantine measures on the level of anxiety and depression at pregnant women. The current investigation was carried out at Kyiv City Maternity Clinic No 1 consultation and diagnostic department. To complete the study tasks, three stages were selected. The pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria were those who were pregnant at the time of the study, had one healthy foetus, gave informed consent to participate in the study, and did not have any serious psychological illnesses. To investigate mental health, we used the Spielberg-Khanin test. The second stage was engaged into correction of psychological changes at pregnant women, where the developed author’s algorithm was applied.

Associations between COVID-19 lockdown and post-lockdown on the mental health of pregnant women, postpartum women and their partners from the Queensland family cohort prospective study

BackgroundThere are very few developed countries where physical isolation and low community transmission has been reported for COVID-19 but this has been the experience of Australia. The impact of physical isolation combined with low disease transmission on the mental health of pregnant women is currently unknown and there have been no studies examining the psychological experience for partners of pregnant women during lockdown. The aim of the current study was to examine the impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020 and post lockdown from August 2020 on the mental health of pregnant women or postpartum women and their partners.MethodsPregnant women and their partners were prospectively recruited to the study before 24 weeks gestation and completed various questionnaires related to mental health and general wellbeing at 24 weeks gestation and then again at 6 weeks postpartum. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were used as outcome measures for the assessment of mental health in women and DASS-21 was administered to their partners. This analysis encompasses 3 time points where families were recruited; before the pandemic (Aug 2018-Feb 2020), during lockdown (Mar-Aug 2020) and after the first lockdown was over (Sept-Dec 2020).ResultsThere was no significant effect of COVID-19 lockdown and post lockdown on depression or postnatal depression in women when compared to a pre-COVID-19 subgroup. The odds of pregnant women or postpartum women experiencing severe anxiety was more than halved in women during lockdown relative to women in the pre-COVID-19 period (OR = 0.47; 95%CI: 0.27–0.81; P = 0.006). Following lockdown severe anxiety was comparable to the pre-COVID-19 women. Lockdown did not have any substantial effects on stress scores for pregnant and postpartum women. However, a substantial decrease of over 70% in the odds of severe stress was observed post-lockdown relative to pre-COVID-19 levels. Partner’s depression, anxiety and stress did not change significantly with lockdown or post lockdown.ConclusionA reproductive age population appear to be able to manage the impact of lockdown and the pandemic with some benefits related to reduced anxiety.

The level of depressive, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive psychopathological dimensions in symptomatic versus asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected pregnant women

IntroductionThe neurotropic valence of SARS-CoV-2 has been revealed in several studies. Depressive and anxiety symptoms are more frequent in the perinatal period leading to maternal and neonatal negative outcomes. Accordingly, depressive and anxiety symptoms are more frequent in the perinatal period leading to negative consequences in both mothers and their neonates.ObjectivesTo determine the level of depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms depending on the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection of pregnant women.MethodsBased on the RT-PCR test, thirty-eight pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalized in Bega Clinic in Timisoara, were assessed concerning the presence of psychopathology. The severity of infection was dichotomized based on the presence or absence of the symptoms. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory were administered to all participants.ResultsOf 38 recruited pregnant women, 12 (31,5%) had symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected pregnant women had a higher average score of depression (p = 0.001) and state and trait anxiety (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively) compared to their asymptomatic counterparts. There were no differences in obsessive-compulsive symptoms (p > 0.05) in relation to the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection.ConclusionsThe SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly interferes with the psychological status, thus jeopardizing the mental health of pregnant women. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 infection should be considered an additional risk factor for anxiety and affective disorders during pregnancy.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Pregnant Women's Anxiety and Depression Symptoms and Influence Factors in the COVID-19 Pandemic in Changzhou, China.

BackgroundWith the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, pregnant women’s psychological conditions have become a global challenge. The aim of the study was to identify the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms and analyze their influence factors among pregnant women in Changzhou, China during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide them with appropriate healthcare strategies.MethodsParticipants were 681 pregnant women who visited various obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Changzhou, China between 25 February 2020 and 7 March 2020. They were asked to complete an online survey. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to detect anxious and depressive symptoms. The chi-squared test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were carried out to examine the associated factors in these groups.ResultsOverall, the prevalence rates of anxiety and depression symptoms among pregnant women were 31.72 and 36.12%, respectively, but most of them were mild. Having an irregular diet with poor subjective sleep quality, perceiving little family support, spending too much time on news related to the coronavirus, and having severe subjective life impact by the coronavirus were related to anxiety and depression symptoms. In addition, lack of physical exercise and exposure to electronic screens over 5 h per day were associated with depression symptoms.ConclusionPregnant women with an irregular diet, poor sleep quality, little family support, excessive attention to COVID-19 news, and lives impacted by the coronavirus severely are at high risk for anxiety and depression symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. This indicates that targeted measures to address mental health in pregnant women during the pandemic period are needed.

Physical Health, Media Use, Stress, and Mental Health in Pregnant Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to significant changes in the care of pregnant women and their fetuses. Emerging data show elevated depression and anxiety symptoms among pregnant women. Aims: The purpose of this article is to investigate the psychological and behavioral impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women in Greece during the first national lockdown. Methods: We used a cross-sectional, anonymous survey to collect data in two fetal medicine clinics in the largest urban centers of Greece during the months of April and May 2020. The questionnaire was largely based on the CoRonavIruS Health Impact Survey (CRISIS), and assessed sociodemographic characteristics, general health and obstetric data and COVID-19-related worries and life changes. Mood symptoms, substance use and lifestyle behaviors were assessed at two time points (3 months prior to the pandemic and the 2 weeks before taking the survey), while perceived stress was measured with the perceived stress scale (PSS-14). Results: A total of 308 pregnant women (Mage = 34.72), with a mean gestation of 21.19 weeks participated in the study. Over one-third of the women found COVID-19 restrictions stressful, and their highest COVID-19-related worry was having to be isolated from their baby. Mean PSS-14 score was 21.94, suggesting moderate stress. The strongest predictors of stress were physical and mental health status before COVID-19 and having experienced a stressful life event during their pregnancy. Compared to 3 months before the pandemic, women reported higher scores on mood symptoms (p < 0.001), TV use (p = 0.01) and social media use (p = 0.031) in the last 2 weeks before taking the survey. Conclusion: Our study provides important preliminary evidence of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown on pregnant women’s well-being and functioning.

The Role of Spiritual Health Experience with Intensity and Duration of Labor Pain While Childbearing and Postpartum

Background: The birth of a child is one of the most important events in a mother's life. The use of religious beliefs and spirituality is often considered as a constructive coping strategy in improving the psychological health of individuals. Objective: The present study aimed to examine the role of spiritual health experience with intensity and duration of labor pain during childbearing and postpartum. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a total of 200 pregnant women who were 37-42 weeks pregnant and referred to Shiraz Medical Hospital for delivery were selected by nonprobability convenience sampling method. Personal and Midwifery Information Questionnaire and Ellison-Paloutzian Spiritual Health Questionnaire were used for data collection. These questionnaires were completed by interviews. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Descriptive test was used for data description and Chi-square test was used for data analysis. The significance level in all testes was set at &lt; 0.05. Results: There is a significant negative relationship between the variable of spiritual health and duration of the admission stage until the full opening of the cervix in primipara and multipara. But there is no significant relationship between the variables of complete opening of the cervix to fetal delivery and fetal delivery to placental delivery and maternal spiritual health. Conclusion: This study increases our knowledge about spiritual health strategies to prevent labor pains and promote mental health in pregnant women. Midwives should be sensitive to the spiritual health of pregnant women and integrate this element into maternal care.

Association between intimate partner violence and prenatal anxiety and depression in pregnant women: a cross-sectional survey during the COVID-19 epidemic in Shenzhen, China

ObjectivesIntimate partner violence (IPV) against women remains a major global public health problem with harmful consequences for individuals and society. People’s lifestyles have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic....

Predictors of Mental health in Pregnant Women: Application of the theory of planned behavior

Aim. The purpose of this study was to predictors of mental health in pregnant women based on theory of planned behavior referred to Iran health centers during the COVID-19 in 2021.&#x0D; Materials and methods. This study was cross-sectional study thatwas conducted on 250 pregnant women. Pregnant women completed General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and theory of planned behavior questionnaire. The data were analyzed with SPSS software version 20 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) through running Pearson Correlation statistical tests, descriptive statistics methods including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation scores. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for normally distributed variable. The significance level of the tests was considered to be 0.05.&#x0D; Results. There was a significant correlation between mental health disorders and some personal and socioeconomic factors. The findings showed that all structures attitude (r=0.69, p0.001), subjective norms (r=0.58, p0.001) and perceived behavioral control (r=0.56, p0.001) and intention (r=0.51, p0.001) had significant correlations with mental health. Among the variables entered into the regression model, attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control were able to predict 65 percent of variance of mental health among the participants (F=60.75, R=0.66, R2=0.65).&#x0D; Conclusion. It is necessary to plan for appropriate care in order to prevent the occurrence of mental disorders among this vulnerable group.

Factors affecting the mental health of pregnant women using UK maternity services during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study

BackgroundPeople using maternity services in the United Kingdom (UK) have faced significant changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing regulations. We focused on the experiences of pregnant women using UK maternity services during the pandemic and the impact of social distancing rules on their mental health and wellbeing.MethodsWe conducted 23 qualitative semi-structured interviews from June 2020 to August 2021, with women from across the UK who experienced a pregnancy during the pandemic. Nineteen participants in the study carried their pregnancy to term and four had experienced a miscarriage during the pandemic. Interviews took place remotely over video or telephone call, discussing topics such as mental health during pregnancy and use of UK maternity services. We used reflexive thematic analysis to analyse interview transcripts.ResultsWe generated six higher order themes: [1] Some pregnancy discomforts alleviated by social distancing measures, [2] The importance of relationships that support coping and adjustment, [3] Missed pregnancy and parenthood experiences, [4] The mental health consequences of birth partner and visitor restrictions, [5] Maternity services under pressure, and [6] Lack of connection with staff. Many participants felt a sense of loss over a pregnancy experience that differed so remarkably to what they had expected because of the pandemic. Supportive relationships were important to help cope with pregnancy and pandemic-related changes; but feelings of isolation were compounded for some participants because opportunities to build social connections through face-to-face parent groups were unavailable. Participants also described feeling alone due to restrictions on their partners being present when accessing UK maternity services.ConclusionsOur findings highlight some of the changes that may have affected pregnant women’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reduced social support and being unable to have a partner or support person present during maternity service use were the greatest concerns reported by participants in this study. Absence of birth partners removed a protective buffer in times of uncertainty and distress. This suggests that the availability of a birth partner or support person must be prioritised wherever possible in times of pandemics to protect the mental health of people experiencing pregnancy and miscarriage.

Building and Realizing the Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Management Platform by Computer Information Technology under the Concept of Mindfulness Intervention.

Nursing management of the gynecology department is one of the challenging issues and needed to be resolved through effective utilization of the available technology. In this paper, we are going to address this issue and try to establish an obstetrics and gynecology nursing management platform used to monitor and evaluate the mental health of pregnant women. Firstly, computer information technology is adopted, and the obstetrics and gynecology nursing management system is established. Secondly, after adopting the system to intervene in the mental state of patients with mindfulness, the system timely monitors the pregnant women's physical health indicators and mental health level data. With the help of the computer data analysis system, the obstetrics and gynecology management platform is built to carry out timely mindfulness interventions for pregnant women. The established system can reach high accuracy in identifying negative emotions of pregnant women, and the accuracy can reach 89.7%. It shows that the established system can timely and accurately intervene and regulate the pregnant woman's bad psychological state, effectively improve the pregnant woman's sleep quality during pregnancy, and enhance the pregnant woman's sleep effect. The effectiveness and feasibility of Internet mindfulness interventions for improving sleep quality during pregnancy has been confirmed. This has important practical significance for the digital and intelligent development of the medical care management platform.

Ser gestante en tiempos de pandemia: Una mirada de la salud mental antes y durante la pandemia

Introduction: Pregnancy is a time of physiological, psychological, personal and social changes for women. The role of the emotional and psychological aspect encompasses the entire period because as fetal development advances, the mother-baby relationship strengthens, making the mother vulnerable. Objectives: To collect, describe and analyze relevant information on mental health in pregnant women, both at different stages of gestation and before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A literature search was conducted through PubMed, Google Scholar and Scielo using terminology compiled from MeSH and DeCs. Results: Pregnancy due to hormonal changes causes the presence of anxiety and depression that worsen as the stages of fetal development progress. These psychological disorders have greatly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to several reasons such as the relationship with the couple, uncertainty, fear, anguish and increasing phobia about contagion. Final considerations: Pregnant women are a vulnerable population, whose mental health has always been affected and nowadays it has been much more affected due to the pandemic, therefore they need better attention in the health sector such as providing them with reliable information on measures to alleviate the burden of stressors, since they not only carry the anguish of their health but also that of the fetus.

Risk factors for depression and anxiety in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from meta-analysis.

BackgroundThe prevalence of anxiety and depression in pregnant women has significantly increased after the spread of COVID-19 throughout the world. We carried out this meta-analysis to reveal the information about risk factors for depression and anxiety in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe searched the PubMed, Embase and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) databases for all articles. The odds ratio (OR) corresponding to the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was used to assess the risk factors for mental health. The statistical heterogeneity among studies was assessed with the Q-test and I2 statistics.ResultsWe collected 17 studies including 15,050 pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results found that factors including decrease in the perception of general support and difficulties in household finances have damage effects on anxiety, and factors including undereducated, unemployed during pregnancy, with a chronic physical illness before pregnancy, decrease in the perception of general support, difficulties in household finances, disobey the isolation rules, and smoking during pregnancy have increased risk of depression.ConclusionOur meta-analysis revealed some risk factors for mental health in pregnant women during COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health interventions in pregnant women may involve targeted methods individually.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted Maternal Mental Health Differently Depending on Pregnancy Status and Trimester of Gestation.

Introduction: We aimed to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health, stratifying on pregnancy status, trimester of gestation, and pandemic period/wave. Methods: Pregnant persons and persons who delivered in Canada during the pandemic, >18 years, were recruited, and data were collected using a web-based strategy. The current analysis includes data on persons enrolled between 06/2020–08/2021. Maternal sociodemographic indicators, mental health measures (Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD-7), stress) were self-reported. Maternal mental health in pregnant women (stratified by trimester, and pandemic period/wave at recruitment) was compared with the mental health of women who had delivered; determinants of severe depression were identified with multivariate logistic regression models. Results: 2574 persons were pregnant and 626 had already delivered at recruitment. Participants who had delivered had significantly higher mean depressive symptom scores compared to those pregnant at recruitment (9.1 (SD, 5.7) vs. 8.4 (SD, 5.3), p = 0.009). Maternal anxiety (aOR 1.51; 95%CI 1.44–1.59) and stress (aOR 1.35; 95%CI 1.24–1.48) were the most significant predictors of severe maternal depression (EDPS ˃ 13) in pregnancy. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on maternal depression during pregnancy and in the post-partum period. Given that gestational depression/anxiety/stress has been associated with preterm birth and childhood cognitive problems, it is essential to continue following women/children, and develop strategies to reduce COVID-19′s longer-term impact.

Psychological Exploitation of Pregnant Women During the Covid-19 Pandemic

The spread of COVID-19 globally impacts individuals' fear, stress, and anxiety. This trend is increasing, especially in pregnant women because it belongs to the group at risk to the safety of themselves and their fetuses. This study explores pregnant women's concerns, problems, and attitudes regarding the condition of the outbreak of Covid-19 during the pandemic through detailed and directed discussions based on their respective experiences to be a benchmark for antenatal services by midwives. &#x0D; Method: Data in analysis with qualitative studies. The interview was conducted on 14 pregnant women in Muara Enim Regency of South Sumatra via mobile phone due to social isolation regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic. The result of the analysis of interview content is processed with ten themes, namely: (1) negative emotional states, (2) living with uncertainty (3) changes in routine and social life. (4) concerns about infection, (5) the use of complementary therapies, (6) social support, (7) financial and occupational issues, (8) concerns about birth, (9) antenatal and postnatal services (10) Unclear information. This study shows that the Covid-19 pandemic caused various difficulties, anxiety, and fear, giving rise to various psychological changes in pregnancy. Midwives as antenatal service providers can make the results of this study to modify the special antenatal services of pandemic Covid-19. The service not only focuses on the physical but also prepares the mental health of pregnant women. Collaboration with other health teams becomes necessary to maintain the condition of maternal pregnancy during the Covid-19 Pandemic.