COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Anxiety in Pregnant Women

Urszula Nowacka, Szymon Kozlowski, Marcin Januszewski, Janusz Sierdzinski, Artur Jakimiuk and Tadeusz Issat
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Urszula Nowacka: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211 Warsaw, Poland
Szymon Kozlowski: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211 Warsaw, Poland
Marcin Januszewski: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology CSKMSWiA, Woloska 137, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland
Janusz Sierdzinski: Department of Medical Informatics and Telemedicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Litewska 14/16, 00-581 Warsaw, Poland
Artur Jakimiuk: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology CSKMSWiA, Woloska 137, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland
Tadeusz Issat: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Mother and Child, Kasprzaka 17a, 01-211 Warsaw, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-10

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak influenced general and mental health worldwide. The objective of this study was to assess the anxiety level during the COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women and compare it between COVID-infected and non-infected groups. We prospectively assessed the daily routine and anxiety level using a bespoke questionnaire and GAD-7 scale validated for pregnant women. With logistic regression, we established possible risk factors of generalized anxiety disorder spectrum and main causes of concern. The dataset included 439 responders of our survey. Of which, 21% had COVID-19 infection during pregnancy; 38% were screened for possible generalized anxiety disorder and the proportion was higher in women who suffered from COVID-19 (48% vs. 35%, p = 0.03). Pre-pregnancy anxiety or depression diagnosis and intentional social contact avoidance increased the risk of anxiety (aOR 3.4 and 3.2). Fetal wellbeing was the main concern for 66% of the responders. The COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions substantially altered daily lives of pregnant women, exaggerating the prevalence of anxiety compared with the pre-COVID-19 studies (38% vs. 15%). COVID-19 infection during pregnancy was associated with increased levels of generalized anxiety scores. Patient-tailored psychological support should be a mainstay of comprehensive antenatal medical care in order to avoid anxiety- and stress-related complications.

Keywords: pregnancy; COVID-19; pandemic; coronavirus; anxiety; mental health; stress; maternal medicine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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