Psychosocial issues and coping mechanisms of pregnant and postnatal women diagnosed with COVID-19: A qualitative study

Abstract

Objective There is a paucity of data on the psychosocial issues and coping mechanisms among pregnant and postnatal women with COVID-19 infection. We, therefore, aimed to explore the psychosocial issues and coping mechanisms of pregnant and postnatal women diagnosed with COVID-19 at tertiary-level hospitals. Methods This was a qualitative phenomenological study conducted in 2021 with a sample size of 16 women admitted at two referral hospitals serving as COVID-19 admission facilities for pregnant and postnatal women in Lusaka, Zambia. In-depth interviews were conducted via telephone to understand what these women experienced when diagnosed with COVID-19. All the interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was conducted using the six steps approach to develop emerging themes. Results Two major themes emerged: psychosocial issues and coping mechanisms. The primary psychosocial issues were worry and stigma. Women worried about infecting their unborn baby or neonate, being separated from the baby, the general safety of the baby, and the health of other family members. Women also worried about the attitude of health care providers and faced discrimination or stigma because of their infection. Thus, some coping mechanisms were developed that helped them, such as a positive attitude, keeping the disease secret, reliance on family members for support and using positive information from social media. Conclusion This study provides unique insights into the psychosocial experiences of pregnant and postnatal women diagnosed with COVID-19. Women were particularly concerned about the unborn baby’s well-being and discrimination. This study suggests the need for policy and clinical practice to consider the integration of effective mental health services into the provision of maternal health and COVID-19 services.

Online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study among final year medical students at the University of Zambia

“…The responses were transcribed verbatim and counter-checked to verify accuracy through an iterative process that was equally applied to the generation of themes hence adding to the credibility of the study. Whilst the results are not generalizable as is the case for qualitative studies, 40 there is immense value in the themes identified which the University could put into consideration and inform policy when online learning is engaged for medical students as their learning needs are unique.…”

COVID testing hesitancy among pregnant patients: Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic about the unique needs and challenges of medically complex populations

“…Indeed, studies have demonstrated how the pandemic impacted the quality of maternal healthcare, including inpatient services [35,36]. Studies also document the type and amount of stigmatization experienced by pregnant persons who tested positive for COVID [37][38][39]. This is concerning, given the degree to which the behaviors and choices of pregnant persons have been scrutinized before the pandemic [40].…”

“When you get the HPV vaccine, it will prevent cervical cancer; it will act as a shield”: adolescent girls’ knowledge and perceptions regarding the human papillomavirus vaccine in Zambia

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