The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 among Women Accessing Family Care Centers during Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period in Italy

Ilaria Lega, Alessandra Bramante, Laura Lauria, Pietro Grussu, Valeria Dubini, Marcella Falcieri, Maria Carmen Ghiani, Antonia Giordano, Stefania Guidomei, Anna Domenica Mignuoli, Serena Paris, Maria Enrica Bettinelli, Patrizia Proietti, Silvia Andreozzi, Valeria Brenna, Mauro Bucciarelli, Gabriella Martelli, Claudia Ferraro, Melissa Torrisi, Danilo Carrozzino and Serena Donati
Additional contact information
Ilaria Lega: National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità—Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Alessandra Bramante: Società Marcé Italiana per la Salute Mentale Perinatal, Italian Marcé Society, Via Donatello 26A, 20131 Milan, Italy
Laura Lauria: National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità—Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Pietro Grussu: Consultorio Familiare South Padua District, Azienda ULSS 6 Euganea, Via Enrico degli Scrovegni 14, 35131 Padua, Italy
Valeria Dubini: Area Assistenza Sanitaria Territoriale e Continuità, Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Piazza Santa Maria Nuova 1, 50122 Firenze, Italy
Marcella Falcieri: AUSL di Bologna, Via Castiglione, 29, 40124 Bologna, Italy
Maria Carmen Ghiani: ASSL di Olbia, ATS Sardegna, Via Bazzoni-Sircana 2/2°, 07026 Olbia, Italy
Antonia Giordano: Attività Consultoriali ASL TO3, Via Martiri XXX Aprile 30, 10093 Collegno, TO, Italy
Stefania Guidomei: AUSL di Bologna, Via Castiglione, 29, 40124 Bologna, Italy
Anna Domenica Mignuoli: ASP Cosenza, Viale Degli Alimena 8, 87100 Cosenza, Italy
Serena Paris: Direzione Professioni Sanitarie e Sociali, ASST Bergamo Est, Via Paderno 21, 24068 Seriate, BG, Italy
Maria Enrica Bettinelli: Coordinamento Attività Consultoriali, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Via Sant’ Erlembardo 4, 20126 Milan, Italy
Patrizia Proietti: UOC Assistenza Alla Persona, ASL Roma 2, Via Maria Brighenti 23, 00159 Rome, Italy
Silvia Andreozzi: National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità—Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Valeria Brenna: Società Marcé Italiana per la Salute Mentale Perinatal, Italian Marcé Society, Via Donatello 26A, 20131 Milan, Italy
Mauro Bucciarelli: National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità—Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Gabriella Martelli: National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità—Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Claudia Ferraro: National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità—Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Melissa Torrisi: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Danilo Carrozzino: Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Serena Donati: National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità—Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: There has been concern about the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on women’s mental health during the perinatal period. We conducted a cross-sectional web-based study aimed at evaluating the psychological impact (BSI-18) of the COVID-19 pandemic on this population and collecting information on the perinatal experiences (COPE-IS) during the second Italian wave. Overall, 1168 pregnant women, and 940 within the first six months after childbirth, were recruited in selected Italian Family Care Centers from October 2020 to May 2021. The prevalence of psychological distress symptoms during pregnancy was 12.1% and 9.3% in the postnatal group. Financial difficulties, a previous mood or anxiety disorder and lack of perceived social support and of support provided by health professionals were associated to psychological distress symptoms in both groups. A third of the women felt unsupported by their social network; 61.7% of the pregnant women experienced changes in antenatal care; 21.2% of those in the postnatal period gave birth alone; more than 80% of the participants identified access to medical and mental health care and self-help as important resources in the present context. Health services should assure enhanced support to the most vulnerable women who face the perinatal period during the pandemic.

Keywords: maternity care; COVID-19; family care centres; mental health; psychological distress; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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