Mental Health Of Pregnant Women Research Articles

Self perceived health and stress in the pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had numerous maternal and neonatal consequences, especially at the mental level. Pregnant women experience a rise in anxiety symptoms and prenatal stress. The aim was to describe self-perceived health status, general stress and prenatal stress and to analyze relations and associations with sociodemographic factors. A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted using non-probabilistic circumstantial sampling. The sample was recruited during the first trimester of pregnancy during the control obstetrical visit. The Google Forms platform was used. A total of 297 women participated in the study. The Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (PDQ), the Perceived Stress Score (PSS) and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) were used. Primiparas presented higher levels of worry about childbirth and the baby (10.93 ± 4.73) than multiparous women (9.88 ± 3.96). Somatic symptoms were present in 6% of the women. Anxiety-insomnia was scored positively by 18% of the women. In the Spearman correlation analysis, statistically significant values were found between almost all study variables. A positive correlation was observed between self-perceived health and prenatal and general stress levels. During the first trimester of gestation, prenatal concerns increase when levels of anxiety, insomnia and depression also increase. There is a clear relationship between prenatal worries, anxiety, insomnia and depression with stress. Health education that focuses on mental health of pregnant women would help reduce worries during pregnancy and would improve the pregnant women perception of her health and well-being.

The Effect of Sombere Education on Stress Levels in Primigravida Pregnant Women

Mental health problems during pregnancy are major public health issues that require immediate attention. Anxiety and stress can have an impact on pregnancy and childbirth. This study examines the impact of Sombere education on the stress levels of pregnant women. A quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test design and a control group was employed in this study. This study's sample consisted of 80 primigravida pregnant women who met the sample criteria. Purposive sampling was utilized in this study. The chi-square test and the Wilcoxon rank test were implemented to analyze the data. The findings of this study revealed that there was a difference in stress in the intervention group after treatment (p=0.000<0.005), as well as a difference in stress in the control group during the post-test (p=0.001<0.005). Sombere education has an effect on stress levels in primigravida pregnant women (p=0.016<0.005). The requirement Midwives provide education on maternal mental health, particularly the stress of pregnancy. In addition, midwives must conduct stress assessments or collaborate with psychologists to ensure pregnant women's mental health.

Analysis of influencing factors of maternal mental health in Sichuan Province

In this paper, a total of 1942 data were obtained by using the Chinese Health Data Center - "Sichuan Maternal Mental Health Data Set". Through the significance test of SPSS software, the impact of academic qualifications, marital satisfaction and negative social events on maternal mental health was analyzed, and it was concluded that the higher the education, the greater the possibility of adverse mental health of pregnant women. In the cross-impact analysis of the three, educational qualifications had the greatest impact on maternal mental health. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to provide continuous specialized guidance, psychological comfort, emotional support and physiological help for pregnant women with different educational levels, reduce and eliminate maternal anxiety and fear, enhance maternal self-confidence, and call for and recommend that families and society improve their care and attention to pregnant women: take care of maternal emotions and lives; Establish a mechanism for building and perfecting.

Childbirth experience during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative thematic analysis

IntroductionPregnancy is a period of special vulnerability for the mental health of women. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic altered the routines of pregnant women, its effects on this population are thus far unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study is to understand the impact of the pandemic on the birth experience of women during the state of emergency in Andalusia, Spain. MethodsA qualitative study was conducted with 14 women, using semistructured interviews via telematics. These were recorded and later transcribed using the F4transkript software. In order to analyze the data retrieved from the interviews and identify the main patterns of meaning/responses, the thematic analysis method was applied. ResultsThe main emerging themes were 'prenatal medical care', 'hospital safety', and 'postpartum with COVID-19 restrictions'. The results indicated that the reorganization of perinatal medical care, the lack of information, and the fear of contagion were the factors that most negatively influenced the participants. Instead, the security during the birth process and the tranquility in postpartum were the positive aspects of the birth experiences during COVID-19. ConclusionThis is the first qualitative study in Andalusia that identifies the specific aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic that have affected the mental health of pregnant women. The results contribute to a broader perception of the experience of women and the creation of health protocols for emergencies akin to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mental health needs among pregnant and parenting adolescent girls and young women in South Africa: A scoping review.

Teenage pregnancy and parenting pose a greater risk of developing mental health problems among pregnant and parenting adolescent girls and young women. We report on a scoping review of peer-reviewed articles to identify mental health needs and challenges among pregnant and parenting adolescent girls and young women. We adopted only five steps of the Arksey and O'Malley framework to facilitate the scoping review of 125 articles published between July 2002 and August 2022 from these databases (MEDLINE, SABINET, EBSCOhost, Science Direct) using search syntax. Major themes emerged from the thematic content analysis; challenges experienced by pregnant and parenting adolescent girls and young women and the recommended interventions, factors associated with mental health in pregnant women and parenting adolescent girls and young women, and the implications of mental health problems. Mental health challenges, among others, include depression, stress and anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorders, and suicidal thoughts. Limited mental health interventions are provided to the group, including social support, parental coaching and counselling, and guidance, which translates to an imbalance between targeted mental health interventions and mental health challenges. We recommend involvement and education of the community on social support, development of digital health programs and integration of mental health services amongst schools, clinics, and community development to support pregnant and parenting adolescent girls and young women.

Effect of Pregnancy Yoga Exercise on Reducing Anxiety of Pregnant Woman Third Trimester

Background: Severe and prolonged anxiety can cause mental disorders. Physiological changes and preparation for labor in the third trimester of pregnancy can trigger increased anxiety in pregnant women. One of the interventions to reduce anxiety in third-trimester pregnant women is yoga exercise. Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to determine how much influence yoga exercise can reduce anxiety in third-trimester pregnant women.Methods: This research is quantitative research with a pure experimental research design with pre and post-test control group design techniques. the number of respondents was 30 and divided into two groups. 15 respondents in the intervention group and 15 respondents in the control group. Data collection using yoga practice protocol and perinatal anxiety screening scale questionnaire. The instrument was used after passing the validity and reliability test. Bivariate analysis was carried out using the homogeneity test, normality test, and Wilcoxon non-parametric distribution test. Results: By this study, it is known that the yoga exercise intervention reduced the level of anxiety in the intervention group. P-value 0.00 (<0.05) indicates that the yoga exercise intervention affects reducing anxiety in third-trimester pregnant women.Conclusion: Health workers need to make innovative interventions that can improve the mental health of pregnant women, for example, by activating the pregnant women's class program.

The prevalence of mental ill-health in women during pregnancy and after childbirth during the Covid-19 pandemic: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

BackgroundThis systematic review aims to explore the prevalence of the impact of the COVID-19, MERS, and SARS pandemics on the mental health of pregnant women.MethodsAll COVID-19, SARS and MERS studies that evaluated the mental health of pregnant women with/without gynaecological conditions that were reported in English between December 2000 – July 2021 were included. The search criteria were developed based upon the research question using PubMed, Science Direct, Ovid PsycINFO and EMBASE databases. A wide search criterion was used to ensure the inclusion of all pregnant women with existing gynaecological conditions. The Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale was used to assess the risk of bias for all included studies. Random effects model with restricted maximum-likelihood estimation method was applied for the meta-analysis and I-square statistic was used to evaluate heterogeneity across studies. The pooled prevalence rates of symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, stress, and sleep disorders with 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed.ResultsThis systematic review identified 217 studies which included 638,889 pregnant women or women who had just given birth. There were no studies reporting the mental health impact due to MERS and SARS. Results showed that women who were pregnant or had just given birth displayed various symptoms of poor mental health including those relating to depression (24.9%), anxiety (32.8%), stress (29.44%), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (27.93%), and sleep disorders (24.38%) during the COVID-19 pandemic.DiscussionIt is important to note that studies included in this review used a range of outcome measures which does not allow for direct comparisons between findings. Most studies reported self-reported measure of symptoms without clinical diagnoses so conclusions can be made for symptom prevalence rather than of mental illness. The importance of managing mental health during pregnancy and after-delivery improves the quality of life and wellbeing of mothers hence developing an evidence-based approached as part of pandemic preparedness would improve mental health during challenging times.OtherThe work presented in this manuscript was not funded by any specific grants. A study protocol was developed and published in PROSPERO (CRD42021235356) to explore several key objectives.

Prenatal Yoga-Based Interventions May Improve Mental Health during Pregnancy: An Overview of Systematic Reviews with Meta-Analysis.

An overview of systematic reviews with meta-analysis was developed to summarize evidence on the effectiveness of prenatal yoga-based interventions on pain, psychological symptoms, and quality of life during pregnancy. CINAHL (via EBSCOhost), Embase, PubMed, SPORTDiscus (via EBSCOhost), and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 15 December 2022. The intervention of interest was any prenatal yoga-based intervention. Pain, psychological symptoms, and quality of life were considered as outcome measures. The methodological quality of systematic reviews was judged using AMSTAR 2. The primary study overlap among systematic reviews was evaluated, building a citation matrix and calculating the corrected covered area (CCA). A total of ten systematic reviews, including fifteen meta-analyses of interest and comprising 32 distinct primary clinical trials, were included. Meta-analyses on pain and quality of life were not found. Most meta-analyses (93%) showed that prenatal yoga-based interventions are more effective than control interventions in reducing anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. However, the overall methodological quality of systematic reviews was judged as critically low, and primary study overlap among systematic reviews was very high (CCA = 16%). Altogether, prenatal yoga-based interventions could improve the mental health of pregnant women, although due to the important methodological flaws that were detected, future systematic reviews should improve their methodological quality before drawing firm conclusions on this topic.

Factors associated with the mental health status of pregnant women in China: A latent class analysis.

Prenatal mental health is a neglected public health issue that places pregnant women at a higher risk for mental disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influencing factors of prenatal mental disorders and provide a scientific basis to guide and promote the mental health of pregnant women. The study sample comprised 973 women in their first pregnancy, who were in their second trimester and third trimester, who underwent obstetric outpatient checkups at the Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Huai'an, who were recruited in the survey that was conducted from July to December 2017. The Chinese mental health scale (CMHS) was used to assess the mental health of pregnant women. The present study uses the chi-square test to compare the rates of class with different demographic variables, a latent class analysis to identify psychological symptoms, and multiple logistic regression analysis to examine whether the demographics predicted class membership. The chi-square test results showed that participants who reported feeling different in the perinatal period (χ2 = 6.35, P = 0.04), having marital satisfaction (χ2 = 15.8, P < 0.001), with an in-law relationship (χ2 = 29.43, P < 0.001), with a friend relationship (χ2 = 24.81, P < 0.001), with basic diseases (χ2 = 8.04, P = 0.02), and taking birth control pills (χ2 = 8.97, P = 0.01) have different probabilities of being classified. Three latent classes were identified: the high symptoms group (6.89%), the moderate symptoms group (20.56%), and the low symptoms group (72.56%). Pregnant women in the third trimester [odds ratio (OR) = 1.83, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-3.25, P = 0.04], with a poor in-law relationship (OR = 2.82, 95% CI:1.45-5.51, P = 0.002), with a bad friend relationship (OR = 3.17, 95% CI: 1.31-7.71, P = 0.01), and who had basic diseases (OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.00-2.90, P = 0.04) tended to be classified under the high symptoms group than under the low symptoms group. Pregnant women with a bad friend relationship (OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.08-4.28, P = 0.03) and taking birth control pills (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.08-2.11, P = 0.02) were more likely to be placed under the moderate symptoms group than under the low symptoms group. A pregnant woman's mental health status factors include feeling different in the perinatal period, those with marital satisfaction, those with an in-law relationship, those with a friend relationship, those with basic diseases, and those taking birth control pills. To ensure a smooth progress of pregnancy and promote the physical and mental health of pregnant women, psychological screening and psychological intervention measures should be strengthened.

Improving Sleep Quality to Prevent Perinatal Depression: The Obstetric Nurse Intervention

Throughout their life, women should pay attention to their mental health. Evidence indicates that poor sleep quality is related to depressive symptoms in pregnancy, justifying the intervention of health professionals in improving sleep quality to promote the mental health of pregnant women. The objective of our study is to analyze the relationship between sleep quality and perinatal depression, and to identify the obstetric nurse’s intervention in improving sleep quality in the perinatal period. A total of 53 pregnant women between the 28th week of pregnancy and the 7th day after delivery completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Women were also asked about the strategies used by the obstetric nurse to improve their quality of sleep. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 25.0. The Mann–Whitney-U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were carried out. A p-value &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The median PSQI score was 10 (±3.63), and 9.2% (n = 9) had good quality sleep. The median EPDS score was 12 (±4.43), and 27 participants (50.9%) had probable depression. The women with likely depression had worse sleep quality (p = 0.016). Most participants reported that the obstetric nurse showed no interest in their sleep quality during pregnancy. Women of other nationalities have a higher risk of depression (p = 0.013). Based on our results, it is crucial to assess sleep quality in the perinatal period to promote women’s health during the prenatal and postnatal periods, and more action is needed since we are facing one of the most significant challenges of this century, preventing depression.

How Artificial Intelligence Can Benefit Pregnant Women's Mental Health: Analysis of Emerging Artificial Intelligence to Pregnancy Prediction

How Artificial Intelligence Can Benefit Pregnant Women's Mental Health: Analysis of Emerging Artificial Intelligence to Pregnancy Prediction

Mental Health of Pregnant Women during the Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 waves

Mental Health of Pregnant Women during the Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 waves

Unplanned Pregnancy and Depressive Symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This is a cross-sectional study conducted with pregnant women who underwent prenatal care at basic health units in São Luís City, Maranhão State, Brazil. The authors used a semistructured questionnaire to assess the socioeconomic, demographic, and clinical characteristics of pregnant women as well as the Edinburgh Scale to investigate depressive symptoms. In order to assess the association between the explanatory variable and the outcome variable, Poisson logistic regression was performed with statistical significance at p < 0.05. A total of 205 women were interviewed, most aged between 18 and 29 years (66.83%). Of this total, 74.63% had not planned their pregnancy and 26.67% had depressive symptoms. The variables unplanned pregnancy (PR = 1.41; CI = 0.99−2.00; p = 0.05) and not undergoing psychological counseling (PR = 1.42; CI = 0.51−0.83; p ≤ 0.01) correlated with depressive symptoms during pregnancy. It is thus possible to link the variables unplanned pregnancy (p > 0.05) and not undergoing psychological counseling (p = 0.001) to depression. Therefore, it is important to monitor the mental health of pregnant women, especially in situations of vulnerability.

Maternal Pre-Pregnancy BMI and Gestational Weight Gain Modified the Association between Prenatal Depressive Symptoms and Toddler's Emotional and Behavioral Problems: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and abnormal pre-pregnancy BMI have been scarcely reported to play interactive effects on child health. In this prospective cohort, we aimed to examine the interactive effects of maternal prenatal depressive symptoms and pre-pregnancy BMI as well as gestational weight gain (GWG) on offspring emotional and behavioral problems (EPBs). Methods: The study samples comprised 1216 mother−child pairs from Shanghai Maternal−Child Pairs Cohort recruited from 2016 to 2018. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG were obtained from medical records, and maternal depressive symptoms were assessed via the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) at 32−36 gestational weeks. The child completed the behavioral measurement via the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at 24 months postpartum. Results: There were 12.01% and 38.65% women with prenatal depressive symptoms and sub-threshold depressive symptoms during late pregnancy. Both maternal depressive symptoms and prenatal sub-threshold depressive symptoms were associated with higher internalizing (OR = 1.69, 95% CI, 1.05−2.72; OR = 1.48, 95% CI, 1.06−2.07) and externalizing (OR = 2.06, 95% CI, 1.30−3.25; OR = 1.42, 95% CI, 1.02−1.99) problems in children. Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG modified the association between prenatal depressive symptoms and child externalizing or total difficulties problems (p < 0.10 for interaction). Among the overweight/obese pregnant women, maternal prenatal depressive symptoms were associated with a higher risk of externalizing problems (OR = 2.75, 95% CI, 1.06−7.11) in children. Among the women who gained inadequate GWG, maternal prenatal sub-threshold depressive symptoms were associated with 2.85-fold (95% CI 1.48−5.48) risks for child externalizing problems, and maternal depressive symptoms were associated with higher externalizing and total difficulties problems (OR = 4.87, 95% CI, 2.03−11.70 and OR = 2.94, 95% CI, 1.28−6.74, respectively), but these associations were not significant in the appropriate or excessive GWG group. Conclusions: Both maternal prenatal sub-threshold depressive symptoms and depressive symptoms increased the risks of child internalizing and externalizing problems at 24 months of age, while the effects on child externalizing problems were stronger among overweight/obese or inadequate GWG pregnant women. Our study highlights the importance of simultaneously controlling the weight of pregnant women before and throughout pregnancy and prompting mental health in pregnant women, which might benefit their offspring’s EBPs.

Anxiety Among Pregnant Women During Covid-19 Pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of international concern and poses a threat to the mental health of pregnant women. There were 536 pregnant women exposed to Covid-19 in the April 2020-April 2021 period. As many as 20 percent of them died. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between social support and anxiety among pregnant women during the Covid-19 pandemic in Pare District, Kediri, East Java. The study was conducted from 9 to 21 March 2021. The data collection was on demographic data, anxiety, social support to COVID-19 of women with established medical records in the Community Health Center of Pare, District. Anxiety was assessed by the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire-revised (PRAQ-R2) questionnaire, social support was assessed by the Social Support Questionnaire. This study had 37 participants with most of them 20-30 years old. During the period of prevention and control of the epidemic, all the pregnant women adopted protective measures, such as wearing masks, washing hands frequently, and staying at home. The results of Social Support most pregnant (89.2) were in the high category and anxiety in pregnant the majority (64.9%) in the medium category. Analysis using the Spearman rank test, the results of p-value = 0.000 (&lt; 0.05). The strength of the correlation between variables was indicated by the value of r = 0.570. Pregnant women's anxiety was affected by the readiness of pregnant women to face childbirth, knowledge of pregnant women, and level of education. It is hoped that pregnant women can manage their anxiety during the Covid-19 pandemic improving the quality of correlations with husbands and family members.

Dysfunctional Attitudes Toward Motherhood and Depressive Symptoms in Portuguese Pregnant Women During COVID-19 Pandemic: the Mediating Roles of Self-Compassion and Mindful Self-Care

ObjectivesThere is evidence that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a negative impact on the mental health of pregnant women, such as an increase in the prevalence of depression. Given the negative consequences that depressive symptoms can pose for pregnant women, it is crucial to understand how cognitive processes influence women’s depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic among this specific vulnerable population. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between pregnant women’s dysfunctional attitudes toward motherhood and their depressive symptoms, considering the mediating roles of self-compassion and mindful self-care.MethodA cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Portugal between October 2020 and April 2021. A sample of 244 pregnant women answered a set of questionnaires to assess dysfunctional attitudes toward motherhood, depressive symptoms, self-compassion, and mindful self-care.ResultsMore dysfunctional attitudes toward motherhood were associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms, and this relation was mediated through self-compassion and mindful self-care.ConclusionsThese results highlight that self-compassion and mindful self-care are important psychological mechanisms and the importance of considering them in psychological interventions to prevent and/or treat depressive symptoms in pregnant women with dysfunctional attitudes toward motherhood during stressful events such as a pandemic.

The relationship among pregnancy-related anxiety, perceived social support, family function and resilience in Chinese pregnant women: a structural equation modeling analysis

BackgroundAccumulating evidence suggests that pregnancy-related anxiety (PRA) has adverse impacts on maternity health and infant development. A substantial body of literature has documented the important influence of family function, perceived social support and resilience on PRA. However, research identifying the mediating mechanisms underlying this relationship in China are still lacking. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of PRA under the three-child policy in China, and also explore the interrelationships among perceived social support, family function, resilience, and PRA.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, a convenient sampling method was used to select 579 pregnant women who underwent prenatal examination at the maternity outpatient departments of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University in China from December 2021 to April 2022. Participants were required to complete the following questionnaires: the demographic form, the Chinese Pregnancy-related Anxiety scale, the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, the APGAR Family Care Index Scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to examine the rudimentary relationship among the study variables. Bootstrapping analyses in the structural equation modeling were applied to identify the significance of indirect effects.ResultsThere were 41.4% of pregnant Chinese women indicating PRA. Correlational analyses indicated that perceived social support, family function and resilience were negatively associated with PRA (r = − 0.47, P < 0.01; r = − 0.43, P < 0.01; r = − 0.37, P < 0.01, respectively). The results of bootstrapping analyses demonstrated significant indirect effects of perceived social support (β = − 0.098, 95% CI [− 0.184, − 0.021]) and family function (β = − 0.049, 95% CI [− 0.103, − 0.011]) on PRA via resilience.ConclusionsChinese pregnant women are suffering from high levels of PRA. Better family function and perceived social support might reduce the occurrence of PRA, as well as by the mediating effects of resilience. Healthcare providers must be concerned about PRA and perform corresponding actions to reduce it. By strengthening social support and improving family function, antenatal care providers could effectively reduce or prevent PRA. And more importantly, implementing resilience-promoting measures are also essential to relieve anxiety and support mental health in pregnant women.

The Effect of COVID-19 on Maternal Mental Health and Medical Support

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic that affected the overall mental health of the population. As seen in previous situations, there seemed to be an extreme impact of disasters on the mental health of pregnant women and new mothers; therefore, we investigated the relationship between COVID-19 and maternal mental health. The pregnant subjects were identified during the study period through convenience sampling. The study received Institutional Review Board approval and online surveys were sent to subjects via email. The questions were focused on feelings about being pregnant and the influence of the practices during the pandemic. Fifty-one (51) pregnant patients were identified. Our study found that 92.3% of the participants felt negatively, as the COVID-19 precautions did not permit their significant other to attend their routine prenatal visits with them. 64.7% felt that the visits were less personal, 100% felt that they had to take more precautions. Only 42% of the doctors of the subjects discussed how COVID-19 could affect the pregnancy and the baby. Pregnant subjects all had negative feelings towards the pandemic, routine precautions, and the inability to include significant others in prenatal visits and delivery. The majority did not feel their medical teams discussed how COVID-19 could affect the baby.

Maternal Anxiety and Its Associated Factors During the First and Second Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Serbia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID 19-pandemic affects people differently, while pregnant women are among the most sensitive populations. The data about maternal mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak are in some ways consistent but also country-specific. The study aims to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women's anxiety and identify its associated factors. This cross-sectional study included a sample of 358 pregnant women during the first and second waves of the pandemic in Serbia. An anonymous survey included basic demographic questions, pregnancy-related background questions, the question of self-reported COVID-19-related fear, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The study revealed no pregnant women with low anxiety levels measured by STAI-T and STAI-S, while the STAI-S and STAI-T scores indicated high anxiety in 32.4% and 42.7% of pregnant women, respectively. The obtained results pointed out the nonlinear dependence of state anxiety on observed associated factors and their complex interactions, including the data collecting period. Our findings reveal that COVID-19 affects pregnant women's mental health and makes it necessary for psychological monitoring and support for pregnant women, which may be reflected in their mental health but also the development of their offspring.

Impact of COVID-19 on perinatal mental health among pregnant mothers infected with COVID-19, during the first wave of the epidemic in Jordan

BackgroundData concerning the impact of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection on the mental health of pregnant women are still limited. The study explored baseline information regarding the impact of COVID-19 on mental health in the perinatal period, among mothers infected with COVID-19, during the first wave of the epidemic in Jordan. The current study aimed to examine the anxiety levels of pregnant women infected with coronavirus over the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted during the period from March to December 2021, using an online survey that addressed key issues related to the role of COVID-19 infection in developing anxiety among pregnant women using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The study population was pregnant women with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection, and who agreed to participate in the study (n = 530). ResultsThe results indicated that one-third of the women had contracted coronavirus infection in each trimester. Most had no pregnancy complications (78.0%), 42.0% had no symptoms of coronavirus infection, 10.0% were hospitalized and 2.0% were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Approximately half declared that they did not receive support from the medical staff, although 71.0% had very good support from their families. Nearly a quarter of respondents stopped smiling while infected, 19% did not want to have any entertainment, and one-third had sleep problems. Moreover, more than half of the pregnant women were feeling anxiety (58.0%) and fear (59.0%). The prevalence of depression and anxiety was 67%. The EPDS scores were statistically significant and associated with being a smoker, method of delivery, getting COVID-19, experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, and being admitted to a hospital or ICU. ConclusionsThis study highlights that healthcare providers and family members should pay more attention to maternal mental health during a pandemic. Fear and anxiety among pregnant women need to be taken into account more during the period of international crises, taking into account the mental health of the pregnant woman when developing health plans, developing health programs, and providing diagnostic and therapeutic management in the maternal care departments.