Health-related quality of life and quality of care in pregnant and postnatal women during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A cohort study

Parental Burnout, Quality of Life, and Pregnancy During COVID-19

Background: Parents may be at greater risk to experience parental burnout after experiencing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the unique experiences of parents with young children during the first two years of the pandemic, this study explored the relationship between parental burnout, quality of life (QOL), and perceived threat of COVID-19 among a sample of adults who parented at least one child under the age of five. Method: A brief survey was conducted through convenience sampling (N = 48) and included the Brief Parental Burnout Scale, The QOL Scale, and a perceived COVID threat scale. Results: Logistic regression analysis found that pregnancy was a significant predictor of burnout risk even after controlling other effects on burnout risk. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the pandemic negatively impacted parental burnout and pregnancy during the first 2 years of the pandemic increased risk for burnout. Awareness is important for appropriate assessment and intervention by clinicians.

Measurement of Health-Related Quality of Life from Conception to Postpartum Using the EQ-5D-5L Among a National Sample of US Pregnant and Postpartum Adults

BACKGROUND

During pregnancy, physiological changes occur from conception to birth. We assessed the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) throughout pregnancy and postpartum using the EQ-5D-5L.

METHODS

Between May and July 2021 (wave 1) and December 2021 and April 2022 (wave 2), we conducted a series of cross-sectional, national online surveys of 5250 pregnant and postpartum United States (US) adults. The survey included the EQ-5D-5L, EQ visual analog scale (EQ VAS), items measuring respondents' sociodemographic and health information, last menstrual period, estimated date of delivery, and date of pregnancy end (if postpartum). We examined monthly EQ-5D-5L items, utility values, and EQ VAS scores during pregnancy and postpartum. We used quantile regression adjusted for calendar month of last menstrual period to estimate changes in HRQoL at different time points of pregnancy and postpartum.

RESULTS

There was a steady increase in the frequency of respondents reporting health-related problems and a decline in EQ-5D-5L utility values from early pregnancy until the ninth month of pregnancy (β = - 0.21; standard error [SE] 0.02; P < 0.001), followed by a 0.10 (SE 0.02; P < 0.001) unit increase in values during the first postpartum month and a stabilization during the remainder of the postpartum period (β = 0.02; SE 0.02; P = 0.214). The median EQ-5D-5L utility value was lowest during the ninth month of pregnancy (median 0.78 [interquartile range 0.30]).

CONCLUSIONS

HRQoL as measured by EQ-5D-5L varies across pregnancy, indicating progressive declines throughout pregnancy and a return to first trimester values during the first month postpartum. Studies involving HRQoL measurement in pregnant people should account for the stage of pregnancy in their estimates.

COVID-19 and delayed antenatal care impaired pregnant women's quality of life and psychological well-being: What supports should be provided? Evidence from Vietnam

BACKGROUND

This study explored the associations between different structural and functional supports with the quality of life (QOL) and mental well-being of pregnant women whose antenatal care was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam.

METHODS

A multi-center cross-sectional study was performed on 868 pregnant women. The pregnant women's quality of life questionnaire (QOL-GRAV), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Perinatal Infant Care Social Support (PICSS) instruments were employed. The satisfaction with care from different sources was measured. Multivariate Tobit Regression models were used.

RESULTS

Seventy pregnant women (8.1%) reported that their antenatal care was influenced by the COVID-19. In this group, a higher level of satisfaction with the care of parents-in-law and a higher score of emotional support were associated with a better "Physical and Emotional changes" domain, while a higher level of appraisal support was related to poorer "Physical and Emotional changes" domain. A higher level of satisfaction with relatives' care and a higher score of emotional support were correlated with a better "Life Satisfaction" domain. EPDS score was negatively correlated with satisfaction with parents-in-law care and appraisal support.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study highlighted that intervention programs to improve the QOL and psychological well-being of pregnant women in epidemics such as COVID-19 or other diseases in the future should involve other family members such as parents-in-law and relatives as sources of support.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional design was unable to draw causal relationships. Recall bias might occur. The convenient sampling method might limit the generalizability of findings.

Emotional difficulties in pregnant females who tested positive for COVID-19: A cross-sectional study from South Kashmir, India

BACKGROUND

It is evident that the novel coronavirus disease pandemic inevitably resulted in increased stress and anxiety in the general population. Pregnancy is a challenging period, and COVID-19 has added risk to women pregnant during the pandemic.

AIM

The present study was aimed to assess the emotional difficulties in pregnant females who tested positive for COVID-19. The current study estimated the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among 63 pregnant ladies who tested positive for COVID-19.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted in Child and Maternity Hospital of GMC Anantnag, Kashmir, India, from April to December 2020. A total of 63 pregnant females who tested positive for COVID-19 participated in the study. The COVID-positive pregnant ladies were interviewed in the outpatient department of the child and maternity clinic 2 weeks after the infection. The interview scale used was Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. The data were analyzed using Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

We found that the mean age of participants was 33.5 ± 7.4. We found that 38.1% of the females had positive bad obstetric history. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 33.32%, 50.83%, and 60.3%, respectively. In correlation analysis, notably bad obstetric history and working females were significant independent factors for higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. The depression was also found more in literate females and the third trimester.

CONCLUSION

The study indicates high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in pregnant females who tested positive for COVID-19. The emotional difficulties were found to be higher in educated and working females. The bad obstetric history was found to be an independent factor for higher levels of emotional difficulties in COVID-positive pregnant females. This calls for extra measures to promote the mental health and resilience of pregnant females, especially during a crisis.