A recent study examining the psychological health of pregnant women during the COVID-19 outbreak found fear and depression in many participants. The findings are published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing .
In an online questionnaire completed in February 2020 by 331 pregnant women in China without COVID-19, participants were mainly concerned about the following: "potentially infected people were unprotected and not isolated", "self-infection could affect the health of their baby," and "they themselves become infected and isolated" (83.1%, 78.6% and 56.2%, respectively).
Women’s psychological responses to the COVID-19 outbreak increased pregnancy stress, while their sense of security decreased pregnancy stress.
The authors urged doctors to quickly assess pregnant women’s psychological responses and provide them with guidance to improve their sense of security and alleviate their fears related to COVID-19.
"If a pregnant woman is diagnosed or suspected of having a COVID-19 infection, it may induce different degrees of psychological stress, such as fear and anxiety, which would not be conducive to the health of the mother or child," said co-author Xiu-Min Jiang, nurse at Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, China. "It is essential that healthcare personnel build trust with pregnant women and their families and communicate accurate information during the COVID-19 outbreak."
