Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Pregnant Women

  • Nargis Iqbal Al Aleem Medical College Gulab devi hospital
  • Faiza Nisar
  • Amna Rafique
  • Khulood Mukhtar
  • Nazia Nawaz
  • Nadia Khurshid
Keywords: Pregnant women, Psychological stress, anxiety, depression

Abstract

Objectives: To ascertain the prevalence of stress and anxiety disorders within pregnant women during the Pandemic of COVID-19.

Methodology: This Cross sectional study was carried out at AL-Aleem Medical College, Lahore attached with Gulab Devi Educational Complex, over a period of three months from September 2020 to November 2020. After approval from Institutional Ethical Committee. Non probability convenience sampling technique was used, a total of 100 willing pregnant women fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in this study. The Data was collected by handing over “The 7- item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7)” Performa and then analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results: The prevalence of stress and anxiety disorders in gravid women in this study was 97%. Out of 100 women's major chunk, 55% was between 26-35 years of age, 32% were between 15-25 years, the mean age of women was 25.58 years.  The majority of women 56% were multigravida, 23% were grand multipara and only 21% were primigravida. Seven percent presented in 1st trimester (1-13 weeks), 26% in 2nd trimester (14-26 weeks), and majority 67% in third trimester of pregnancy. Seventy two percent of women were matric pass and 28% were up to bachelor. About 93% women had knowhow regarding COVID-19 through social media, friends, and family. 

Conclusion: This study foreground the high level of stress and anxiety disorders amid Pakistani gravid women during COVID-19 Pandemic. To reduce this stress special preventive strategies and its implementation are needed at the community level. 

Published
2021-06-11
Section
Original Articles