Effects of COVID-19 anxiety and obsession on fear of childbirth in high-risk pregnancy during the pandemic in Turkey

Abstract

Objective The COVID-19 pandemic may have significant effects on fear of childbirth among women undergoing a high-risk pregnancy. This study sought to determine the relationship between the COVID-19 obsession and anxiety levels of women with high-risk pregnancies and their fear of childbirth. Methods A total of 326 hospitalized women with high-risk pregnancies were evaluated between March 2021 and March 2022. The COVID-19 Anxiety Scale(CAS), the COVID-19 Obsession Scale(OCS), and the Fear of Birth Scale(FOBS, composed of two subscales, FOBS1-anxiety and FOBS2-fear) were administered. Results There were positive correlations between the FOBS1 and FOBS2 scores of the participants and their CAS and OCS total scores ( p < .001). The participants with secondary school degrees, those who had not given birth before, those who had an unfavorable previous childbirth experience, and those who were planning to have vaginal delivery had significantly higher mean FOBS1 and FOBS2 scores ( p < .05). Those living in an extended family were 3.22 times more likely to experience FOBS1 and 2.23 times more likely to experience FOBS2 than those living in a nuclear family, and women following COVID-19 information were 3.69 times more likely than others. In addition, those scheduled for vaginal delivery were 1.8 times more likely to experience FOBS2 than those scheduled for cesarean section. Conclusion Women with high-risk pregnancies may experience COVID-19 anxiety, which may worsen their fear of childbirth. Psychosocial interventions focused on addressing COVID-19 anxiety are warranted for women with high-risk pregnancies in Turkey and for those living in other areas of the world as well.