Anxiety and Adaptation of Behavior in Pregnant Zhuang Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Mode Survey

Abstract

Purpose This study explored the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health and adaptation of behavior of Zhuang women in China to provide more specific guidance for the social and medical practice of pregnant women during public health emergencies. Participants and Methods This cross-sectional study recruited 446 pregnant Zhuang women from obstetric outpatient clinics in four tertiary hospitals and online maternity schools in Nanning, Guangxi, between February 24 and March 1, 2020. Self-designed questionnaires and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale were used. Results During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence rate of anxiety among women was 36.77%, and some adaptation of behavior was observed. Logistic regression analysis showed that pregnant women who had an annual household income of less than $7,000, were primiparous, went out for prenatal examination, wanted to self-monitor during pregnancy but did not know how to do it, believed that they should be strictly isolated at home and cancel prenatal examinations, and expected to receive pregnancy healthcare through teleconsultation services showed a higher risk of anxiety. Nevertheless, pregnant Zhuang women who were 22–35 years old, undergraduate-educated, and in their second trimester were less likely to suffer from anxiety. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant psychological impact on pregnant women from ethnic minorities. Factors related to quarantine and social isolation policies appear to drive changes in behaviors and anxiety disorders. Multidisciplinary mental health services and culturally sensitive interventions are necessary for minority pregnant women, especially for low-income primiparous women in the first or third trimester.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women During COVID-19 at Public Health Facilities of East Gojjam Zone, 2020: A Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study

“…The finding of the current study was relatively higher than previous studies conducted in Ethiopia during the COVID-19 pandemic (32.2%) ( 9 ), Nigeria (37.5%) ( 28 ), and China (36.77%) ( 29 ). The finding is significantly higher than studies from the Southern Ethiopia (10.04%) ( 26 ), South Africa (23%) ( 18 ), Tanzanian (25%) ( 30 ), China (6.8%) ( 31 ), and (11.18%) ( 27 ), Pakistan (20.4%) ( 32 ), Iran (21%) ( 15 ), Brazil (26.8%) ( 19 ), and Indonesia (29%) ( 33 ).…”

“…The odds of experiencing GAD among pregnant women with less than three children were 1.53 times that of pregnant women with greater than three children. Studies in Turkey (37), China (29,38), and Canada (8) support this evidence, in which pregnant women with a lower level of parity had a higher prevalence of anxiety. A higher occurrence of GAD in this study was attributed to major study participants of primigravida (330) 40.9%; this group was more sensitive and could easily magnify pregnancy symptoms such as nausea and vomiting into a more severe illness, which increased the prevalence of anxiety.…”

Psychological Distress Among Ethiopian Pregnant Women During COVID-19: Negative Correlation with Self-Efficacy

“… 19 In line with this, lockdown and quarantine policies such as social isolation have driven the disturbances of mental wellbeing. 20 …”

Anxiety among Pregnant Women Attending Obstetrics Unit of a Tertiary Care Centre during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

“…10 Different studies conducted in various parts of the world have reported a wide variety of prevalence of anxiety among pregnant women. Some of the reported prevalence of anxiety are as follows: 39.1% in Nepal, 11 11.1% in India, 12 36.77% in China, 13 37.5% in Nigeria, 14 29.7% in Oman, 15 29.2% in Turkey, 16 and 52% in Netherlands. 17 The prevalence of anxiety reported in this study is lower than most of the other studies conducted in Nepal and other parts of the world.…”