Health Behavior Changes among Maternity Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Maternity nurses are frontline health professionals in the COVID-19 pandemic who may confront life-altering challenges. Studies that evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on maternity nurses' daily lifestyles are limited. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the changes in health-enhancing behaviors, such as eating habits and lifestyle behaviors, during the COVID-19 pandemic among nurses working in a maternity hospital. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that surveyed maternity nurses working in a major government maternity hospital in Kuwait. Data were collected between January and February 2021. Results: A total of 336 participants completed the questionnaire. Normal weight was perceived by 88 (26.2%) of the participants, while 56 (16.7%) had a Body Mass Index indicating obesity. Weight gain during the pandemic was reported by 128 (38.1%) participants and 91 (27.1%) of the sample gained one to three kilograms. The findings showed low adherence to the Mediterranean diet 5.3 ± 2.5 points. Sleep hours decreased significantly during the crisis, with 113 (33.6%) of participants sleeping 7 to 9 hours during the COVID-19 situation compared to 136 (40.5%) before the pandemic (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the proportion of participants who practiced sports before the COVID-19 crisis 78 (23.2%) and those who practiced sports 72 (21.4%) during the COVID-19 crisis (p < 0.001). A significant association was found between weight gain and participants who have chronic diseases 27 (56.3%) (X 2 = 7.621, P = 0.006), felt hungry between meals 37 (50.7%) (X 2 = 6.505, p = 0.011), and who reported changes in their appetite (X 2 = 17.129, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Maternity nurses revealed low adherence with the healthy diet, with almost a third of participants having self-reported weight gain.