Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Depression and Fear Of COVID-19 Among Pregnant Women During the Rapid Rise Period of the Coronavirus Pandemic in a Middle Eastern Country: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging public health issue. Pregnant women are susceptible to its negative psychological impact. Particularly, pre-natal psychological health is critical as it can affect the well-being of the mothers and their fetuses. The present study aimed to assess the Covid-19 psychological impact on pregnant women, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and fear related to COVID-19 as well as to investigate their associated factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women in Lebanon between 17th November 2020 and 27th February 2021. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data about participants’ baseline characteristics and psychological status, including PTSD, depression as well as fear related to COVID-19. Results Out of the 466 respondents, 28.5% (n = 133) had PTSD related to Covid-19, and 22.1% (n = 133) had depression. The mean score for the fear of Covid-19 was 18.51 ± 5.55. Pregnant women’s depression and fear of Covid-19 were significantly associated with PTSD (adjusted OR = 5.85 with 95% CI of 3.37 to10.16; adjusted OR = 1.19 with 95% CI of 1.13 to 1.26, respectively). Furthermore, smoking during pregnancy and encountering difficulties in accessing healthcare during the pandemic were found to be associated with depression, while practicing home quarantine was found to be associated with the fear of Covid-19. Pregnant women who perceived high risks towards Covid-19 and those who experienced PTSD had high levels of both depression and the fear of Covid-19 compared to their counterparts. Conclusion High levels of PTSD, depression, and fear of Covid-19 were detected among Lebanese pregnant women. This recommends further psychological interventions to mitigate these levels.