Health anxiety and related factors among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study from Iran

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many countries around the world and Iran was no exception. The aim of this study was to evaluate health anxiety of Iranian pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 300 pregnant women in different trimesters (n=100 in each trimester) were recruited. A demographic questionnaire and the Health Anxiety Questionnaire were used to collect data. Scores of <27, 27-34 and more than 35 were defined as low, moderate and high health anxiety, respectively. Due to nationwide restrictions, data were collected through social media groups. Chi-square tests, ANOVA and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results: Mean (SD) total anxiety scores were 22.3±9.5, 24.6±9.3 and 25.4±10.6 in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. 9%, 13% and 21% of women had severe anxiety in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. Women in the third trimester had significantly higher health anxiety scores than those in the first trimester (p=0.045). Conclusion: At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy were more worried about consequences of disease, but total health anxiety scores were significantly higher among women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Health care providers should pay more attention to the mental health of pregnant women in times of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Prevalence of Insomnia, Anxiety, and Depression During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The average duration between data collection and publication was 2,018.187 ± 1.709 in the studies included in the analysis. The studies were conducted in Israel (Adler et al, 2019), United States (Gildner et al, 2020; Kalmbach et al, 2019; Kinser et al, 2018; Perzow et al, 2021), Turkey (Akgor et al, 2021; Alan et al, 2020; Nacar & Taşhan, 2019; Sel et al, 2019), Ethiopia (Bante et al, 2021; Belay et al, 2018; Duko et al, 2019; Gebremichael et al, 2018; Habtamu Belete et al, 2019; Shitu Ayen et al, 2020; Tesfaye & Agenagnew, 2021; Tiki et al, 2020), Bangladesh (Begum & Biswas, 2020), Italy (Cena et al, 2020; Ravaldi & Vannacci, 2020), China (Dong et al, 2021; Lau et al, 2018; Lin et al, 2021; Mo et al, 2018; Yang et al, 2021; Yu et al, 2020; Zhang et al, 2021; Zhang, Yang, et al, 2020), Denmark (Ertmann et al, 2020), South Africa (Govender et al, 2020; Kaiyo-Utete et al, 2020), Iran (Hamzehgardeshi et al, 2021; Kazemi & Dadkhah, 2022; Saadati et al, 2021), Finland (Laitinen et al, 2021), Ghana (Lillie et al, 2020), Vietnam (Luong-Thanh et al, 2021), Croatia (Mikšić et al, 2018), Malez either (Nasreen et al, 2018), India (Sheeba et al, 2019; Venkatesh et al, 2019), Pakistan (Sabir et al, 2019; Shahid et al, 2020), Poland (Smyka et al, 2020; Stepowicz et al, 2020), Thailand (Tuksanawes et al, 2020), and the Netherlands (Zilver et al, 202...…”

Saúde Mental Das Gestantes E Puérperas Na Pandemia De Covid-19: Revisão Integrativa

“…Além dos impactos físicos para as gestantes, cabe ressaltar também a importância de conhecermos o impacto da pandemia quanto à saúde mental materna (FIOCRUZ, 2020;KANG, 2020;SAHINA, KABAKCI, 2021;PUERTAS-GONZALEZ et al, 2021). No caso das gestantes, parturientes e puérperas, acredita-se que esses estressores se sobrepõem e potencializam aqueles inerentes à gestação, parto e puerpério, potencializando a sobrecarga e o sofrimento psíquico dessa população (LÓPEZ-MORALES et al, 2021).…”

Pesquisa e Extensão: Abordagem Interdisciplinar

“…A ansiedade e a depressão acometem uma a cada sete mulheres no perinatal, entretanto, durante a gravidez e o período perinatal, 50% das mulheres com depressão ficam sem diagnóstico (HESSAMI et al, 2020). Chivers et al (2020) No estudo realizado por Saadati et al (2021) com 300 gestantes, 73,6% das mulheres relataram que a pandemia de covid-19 aumentou sua ansiedade. Uma possível explicação para isso seria a falta de acesso das mulheres a seus provedores de saúde no momento do parto, ou elas poderiam estar relutantes em ir a instalações de saúde ou hospitais, uma vez que consideram esses lugares como sendo ambientes inseguros durante a pandemia de covid-19.…”

“…A impossibilidade das participantes de se encontrarem com seus familiares devido ao distanciamento social resultaram em solidão e redução das interações sociais, fazendo com que as gestantes vivessem um processo difícil (Sahina;Kabakcib, 2020). As preocupações das gestantes podem estar relacionadas ao fato de não terem acesso aos parentes se necessário, e muitas podem ter preocupações com a falta de apoio familiar e social devido às medidas de distanciamento (Saadati et al, 2021).…”