Coronavirus-Related Anxiety, General Anxiety, And Depressive Symptoms In Pregnant Women During The Covid-19 Pandemic
Keywords:
pregnancy, anxiety, depression, COVID-19, pandemicAbstract
Objective:
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of people around the world, including pregnant women, a particularly sensitive group due to hormonal changes and concerns about the baby's health. In this study, we aimed to examine the mental health of pregnant women during the pandemic and the factors influencing it.
Method:
A total of 109 pregnant women who applied to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology outpatient clinic during the pandemic period were included in the study. Interviews were conducted with the participants, and they were administered a semi-structured form, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A).
Results:
The average CAS score among participants was 1.81; the average HAM-A score was 6.18, and the average HAM-D score was 3.93. It was found that 42.8% of participants had HAM-A scores above the cutoff point, and 16.5% had HAM-D scores above the cutoff point. Pregnant women with a history of psychiatric illness, decreased household income during the pandemic, and reduced social support had higher anxiety and depression scores.
Conclusion:
Since mental health during pregnancy can affect both maternal and infant health, our findings emphasize the importance of providing support mechanisms to pregnant women, even under extraordinary circumstances such as a pandemic.
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