Anxiety levels and obsessive compulsion symptoms of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic

Global prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms in different trimesters of pregnancy: A meta-analysis and meta-regression

The global prevalence of psychological problems in different trimesters is unclear due to methodological constraints in previous reviews. A precise estimate would be a key first step in raising awareness and allocating resources. This review aims to (1) calculate the global prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms during different trimesters and (2) determine the factors influencing their prevalence estimates. A comprehensive search across eight databases was conducted. The meta packages in R software were used to perform meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and meta-regression analysis. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to assess the study quality, while the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation method was utilized to assess the certainty of the evidence. A total of 88 studies with 61,719 participants across 48 countries were included. The prevalences of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms during all trimesters were 27% (95% CI: 23-31), 37% (95% CI: 31-42), and 26% (95% CI: 9-49), respectively. The second trimester had the highest prevalence of depression (30%) and anxiety (28%) symptoms, whereas the third trimester had the highest prevalence of stress symptoms (52%). A series of subgroup and meta-regression analyses revealed that regions, economic levels of the country, setting, the COVID-19 pandemic, and quality of study were significant factors. Most studies were high quality, but the certainty of the evidence was very low. Findings can contribute as evidence to raising awareness about specific psychological problems during different trimesters. Implementing effective policies and launching targeted interventions can help minimize the prevalence.

Worldwide prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

During the COVID-19 pandemic governments worldwide implemented contagion-containing measures (i.e., physical distancing, hand sanitizing, mask wearing and quarantine). The similarities between these measures and obsessive-compulsive phenomenology (e.g., contamination concerns and repetitive washing and/or checking) led to inquiries about the frequency with which obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) were encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to ascertain the prevalence of OCS in individuals of any age during the pandemic (i.e., any obsessive-compulsive symptoms that are clinically significant as shown by a score above the cut-off score of a scale, without necessarily fulfilling the diagnostic threshold for a diagnosis of OCD). A systematic search of relevant databases identified 35 studies, which were included in the systematic review following our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most of the studies were conducted in adults from the general population and adopted an online assessment method, with 32 studies being eligible for meta-analysis. The meta-analysis resulted in a 20% average prevalence of OCS during the pandemic, with very high heterogeneity among the included studies (I2 99.6%). The highest prevalence of OCS was found in pregnant women (36%, n = 5), followed by individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 (22%, n = 4) and general population (22%, n = 19), undergraduates (21%, n = 5), and healthcare workers (5%, n = 5). The prevalence rates of OCS were higher in Asia (26%, n = 17) and North America (25%, n = 3) than in Europe (13%, n = 12) and Africa (7%, n = 4). Among the studies included, rates appeared higher in certain countries, though this difference did not reach statistical significance and was limited by very few studies conducted in certain countries. When compared to pre-pandemic rates, there seemed to be higher rates of OCS during the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia, Europe, and pregnant women. These findings are discussed considering the impact of the pandemic and contagion-containing measures on the perception and reporting of OCS, and susceptibility of the vulnerable population groups to experiencing OCS during the pandemic.

Decoding distress among pandemic pregnancies: Examining pregnancy distress and COVID-19 stress as concurrent predictors of current and anticipated postpartum sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVES

The goal of the present study was to examine pregnancy distress, COVID-19 stress, COVID-19 compliance, and life satisfaction as concurrent predictors of perceived current and anticipated postpartum sleep duration (SD) and quality among a U.S. sample of pregnant individuals.

METHODS

The sample comprised 544 pregnant individuals (62.3% non-Hispanic White; mean age = 28.0 and SD = 6.2), most of whom were in their third trimester (42.3%). Participants were recruited through an online panel (Qualtrics) between October and November 2020.

RESULTS

The primary analysis was based on a concurrent path model, which examined pregnancy distress, COVID-19 stress, COVID-19 compliance, and life satisfaction as predictors of current and anticipated postpartum SD and sleep quality, controlling for several demographic (eg, age and income), familial (eg, number of children and adults in the home), sleep-related (eg, chronotype and use of sleeping medication), and psychosocial functioning (eg, COVID-19 impact) variables. Results indicated that higher COVID-19 compliance was significantly associated with poorer current sleep quality. Furthermore, both pregnancy distress and COVID-19 stress predicted worse anticipated postpartum sleep quality (but not duration). Life satisfaction, however, was consistently significantly associated with current and anticipated postpartum SD and quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings are critical for understanding how various forms of stress correlate with sleep health behaviors during pregnancy, as well as expectations for postpartum sleep among a vulnerable population at risk for both psychological and sleep challenges during a period of unprecedented global stress.

Longitudinal Course of Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review of Three Years of Prospective Cohort Studies

Objective

During the pandemic, there has been a slight increase in obsessive-compulsive symptoms in both clinical and non-clinical samples. Three years after the pandemic, we conducted the first systematic review of prospective cohort studies assessing temporal changes in obsessive-compulsive symptoms and their extent in both patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and community samples, regardless of age or socio-cultural background, during any phase of the pandemic.

Method

Prospective cohort studies were included if validated self-report questionnaires or standardized interviews for obsessive-compulsive symptoms were used. Studies that enrolled OCD patients were included if OCD was diagnosed before the outbreak of the pandemic. The following were our exclusion criteria: cross-sectional and case-control studies, single case studies, editorials, commentaries, and reviews. Studies assessing the effectiveness of an intervention were excluded.

Results

15 studies were included. Overall, studies showed a small upsurge in obsessive-compulsive symptoms, especially washing/contamination symptoms, during the coronavirus outbreak. The severity of symptoms seemed to follow the pattern of restriction measures and the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.

Conclusions

Factors contributing to the worsening of obsessive-compulsive symptoms during the pandemic were discussed.

Access to Maternal and Child Health Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Explorative Qualitative Study in Odisha, India

Background

Maternal and child health (MCH) care is one of the essential routine healthcare services, which got affected during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Modeled projections had anticipated an 8.3%-38.6% rise in maternal mortality from different countries globally. In view of limited studies pertaining to issues related to accessing MCH services in the event of a pandemic, this study was carried out on pregnant and postnatal mothers in Odisha, India.

Methods

An explorative qualitative study through 36 in-depth interviews (IDIs) was conducted among 16 (44.4%) antenatal and 20 (55.5%) postnatal mothers in six of thirty districts of Odisha, India, from February to April 2021. The districts and blocks were randomly selected for better representativeness. The IDIs were conducted using a predesigned and pretested guide among mothers who had undergone delivery or availed of antenatal, postnatal, or child health services from October 2020 to April 2021. The IDIs were conducted till data saturation. The data were analyzed using MAXQDA software.

Results

The average age of mothers was 27.6 (+/- 2.2) years. Among the participants, 16 (44.4%) were antenatal and 20 (55.6%) were postnatal mothers; 19 (52.8%) were primipara and 17 (47.2%) were multipara. The majority explained that they received enormous support including door-to-door services from the community health workers (CHWs) even during the difficult times of the pandemic. Reduced transportation facility and fear of contracting the infection were reasons behind the unwillingness to visit health facilities and preference for home delivery. Furthermore, the pandemic had physical, mental, social, and financial impacts among pregnant and postnatal women.

Conclusion

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has affected access to MCH services by antenatal and postnatal mothers. Health system preparedness and appropriate strategies including better community engagement and participation could avert such challenges in the future.

The prevalence of mental ill-health in women during pregnancy and after childbirth during the Covid-19 pandemic: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This systematic review aims to explore the prevalence of the impact of the COVID-19, MERS, and SARS pandemics on the mental health of pregnant women.

METHODS

All COVID-19, SARS and MERS studies that evaluated the mental health of pregnant women with/without gynaecological conditions that were reported in English between December 2000 - July 2021 were included. The search criteria were developed based upon the research question using PubMed, Science Direct, Ovid PsycINFO and EMBASE databases. A wide search criterion was used to ensure the inclusion of all pregnant women with existing gynaecological conditions. The Newcastle-Ottawa-Scale was used to assess the risk of bias for all included studies. Random effects model with restricted maximum-likelihood estimation method was applied for the meta-analysis and I-square statistic was used to evaluate heterogeneity across studies. The pooled prevalence rates of symptoms of anxiety, depression, PTSD, stress, and sleep disorders with 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed.

RESULTS

This systematic review identified 217 studies which included 638,889 pregnant women or women who had just given birth. There were no studies reporting the mental health impact due to MERS and SARS. Results showed that women who were pregnant or had just given birth displayed various symptoms of poor mental health including those relating to depression (24.9%), anxiety (32.8%), stress (29.44%), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (27.93%), and sleep disorders (24.38%) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DISCUSSION

It is important to note that studies included in this review used a range of outcome measures which does not allow for direct comparisons between findings. Most studies reported self-reported measure of symptoms without clinical diagnoses so conclusions can be made for symptom prevalence rather than of mental illness. The importance of managing mental health during pregnancy and after-delivery improves the quality of life and wellbeing of mothers hence developing an evidence-based approached as part of pandemic preparedness would improve mental health during challenging times.

OTHER

The work presented in this manuscript was not funded by any specific grants. A study protocol was developed and published in PROSPERO (CRD42021235356) to explore several key objectives.

Psychological Distress Impact of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak on Three Continents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The dire state of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has had a substantial psychological impact on society.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed through Medline, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science, to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health of individuals in various countries. Subgroup analyses considered gender and classification of countries into three continents of America, Europe, and Asia. Only studies that used the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI) questionnaire as a tool to assess mental distress were included in this meta-analysis. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed by I² statistic, and the random-effects model was utilized to obtain the pooled prevalence.

RESULTS

This pooled analysis included a large data sample of 21 studies consisting of 94,414 participants. The pooled prevalence of the psychological distress during the time of COVID-19 pandemic by CPDI for the continent of Asia was 43% (34.6% mild-to-moderate and 8.4% severe) which was greater than that for Europe (35%; 30% mild-to-moderate and 5% severe) but lower than that for America (64.3%; 45.8% mild to moderate and 18.5% severe). In addition, the prevalence of psychological distress according to CPDI was higher in females (48%; 40% mild to moderate, 13% severe) compared with males (59%; 36% mild to moderate and 5% severe).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that psychological distress in the Americas is a larger problem than in Asia and European continents. Females appear to be more vulnerable and may therefore require further attention in terms of preventive and management strategies. Implementation of both digital and molecular biomarkers is encouraged to increase objectivity and accuracy of assessing the dynamic changes in mental health in the current and future pandemics.

New life, new feelings of loss: Journaling new motherhood during Covid-19

In this article we analyze the longitudinal journals of 32 Pandemic Journaling Project (PJP) participants who were pregnant, planned a pregnancy, or gave birth between January 2020 and July 2021. Employing a grounded theory approach, we coded journals in NVivo for emerging themes related to the influence of the Covid-19 pandemic on perinatal experiences in North America and Europe. In the paper we first provide some brief background on perinatal mental health and on the particular conditions for pregnancy and birth during Covid-19, before introducing major themes that emerged from the data, along with three in-depth case studies. We argue that the new mothers and prospective mothers in our sample associated new life with new feelings of loss during Covid-19. New motherhood during Covid-19 has meant for PJP participants a loss of seemingly irretrievable opportunities and moments that they see as necessary for establishing themselves as mothers and integrating their babies into their families through a process of "kinning" (Howell, 2003). Feelings of loss associated with disruptions to kinning may be partially responsible for the increase in perinatal mental distress observed during the pandemic.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic Process: A Narrative Review

This study aimed to review all empirical contributions published between March 2020 and June 2022, addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults. We searched the literature in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. A total of 543 articles were scanned and 73 full-text articles were identified. Reviews, comments, letters to the editor, and case reports (except case series) were excluded. It was determined that 42 articles met the inclusion criteria, 6 studies involving only children and adolescents were excluded, and 36 were decided on their suitability for our study. The analysis determined that COVID-19 had an impact on obsessive-compulsive disorder. Characteristics such as liability for harm and unacceptable thoughts influenced the symptoms as well as contamination and washing. Some studies showed an increase in the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, while some reported no worsening but improvement with treatment and follow-up. While some reported variations in outcomes related to sociodemographic characteristics and subtypes, some focused on the risk of suicide. There were also studies conducted on special groups such as pregnant women or healthcare workers. The results were controversial. While available data contain more information on worsening obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms, data on the status of patients under treatment were scarce. There were not enough studies evaluating follow-up results. Influencing factors such as sociodemographic characteristics, subtypes, comorbid conditions, treatment, and support did not seem to have been adequately addressed.

The relationship of probable clinical anxiety with attitude-behaviour, coping styles and social support in healthy pregnant women during the late period COVID-19 pandemic

The aim of the study is to investigate the prevalence of state and trait probable clinical anxiety and their relationship with socio-demographic factors, attitude-behaviour, coping styles and social support level in high-risk pregnant women in the late period of COVID-19 pandemic. The pregnant women followed up in the gynaecological outpatient clinic were evaluated during their admissions. About 191 healthy pregnant women were included in the study. Data were collected using the socio-demographic and pregnancy attitude-behaviour data form, STAI (Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), the Coping Styles Scale Brief Form (Brief-COPE) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Our study found that pregnant women had high anxiety levels (STAI-S:37.90 ± 8.88; STAI-T:42.46 ± 7.80) and probable clinical anxiety prevalences (STAI-S:81(42.4%); STAI-T:123(64.4%)) in the late period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that COVID-19 determined the preference of the birth method and the level of knowledge about COVID-19 predicted state probable clinical anxiety. Educational status, concern for COVID-19 transmission to the baby during pregnancy/birth, behavioural disengagement, focussing on and venting emotions predicted trait probable clinical anxiety. Our results have emphasised the factors that should be taken into account and coping styles that may be functional to protect the mental well-being of healthy pregnants.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? The COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to increase the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression of the general population and healthcare workers. There is limited studies about pregnant women.What do the results of this study add? According to our study, we can say that approximately half of the pregnant women in a pandemic need psychiatric evaluation due to probable clinical anxiety. The relationship between anxiety in the pandemic process and birth preference has been shown and coping styles in healthy pregnant women have been investigated for the first time, effective and ineffective coping styles have been shown. In addition, it has been found that the social support of pregnant women is effective in managing the pandemic process.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? According to our current findings, a multidisciplinary approach in which pregnant women are screened with self-report psychiatry tests and appropriate pregnant women are consulted to psychiatry during pandemic processes will make it easier for obstetricians to manage the patient. Especially strengthening effective coping styles and social support will have a great effect in mental rehabilitation. In this respect, further studies on pregnant women are needed.

Pregnancy-related psychopathology: A comparison between pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19-related social restriction periods

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted in a still undefined way pregnant women's mental health. There are reports of mood and affect changes in the general population and the suggestion that similar changes occur also in the pregnant population. The greater vulnerability of women during the COVID-19 restriction period may translate into a greater risk for mental disorders in the gestational period. We hypothesised that pregnant women in the pre-pandemic period would have less psychopathology and more psychological support than pregnant women during the pandemic restriction period.

AIM

To compare pregnant women for anxiety, prenatal depression, psychopathology, and social support before and after the awareness of the pandemic.

METHODS

We administered to women willing to participate in their 2nd-3rd trimesters of pregnancy the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI-Y), and the Symptom CheckList-90-Revised (SCL-90R); we further collected sociodemographic variables and explored women's social support. The comparison was cross-sectional. The first sample was termed nonCOVID-19 because data were gathered before the COVID-19 outbreak (January 2020-February 2020) was declared, and the second sample termed COVID-19 because participants were already subjected to the COVID-19-related restrictive measures (January 2021-February 2021). Since normal distribution was not met (Shapiro-Wilk test applied), we applied nonparametric Mann-Whitney's U-test to compare psychometric tests. Ethical standards were met.

RESULTS

The nonCOVID-19 group reported higher support from partners only, while the COVID-19 group reported multiple support (χ 2 = 9.7181; P = 0.021); the nonCOVID-19 group scored higher than the COVID-19 group only on state anxiety among psychometric scales [STAI-Y1, nonCOVID-19 median = 39 (95%CI: 39.19-51.10) vs COVID-19 median= 32 (95%CI: 30.83-38.90); Mann-Whitney's U=117.5, P = 0.00596]. Other measures did not differ meaningfully between the two groups. Scores on the EPDS, the state and trait subscales of the STAI-Y, and most SCL-90R subscales inter-correlated with one another. The anxiety component of the EPDS, EPDS-3A, correlated poorly with other measures, while it was the Global Symptom Index of the SCL-90-R that correlated most strongly with most measures. Our results are at odds with most literature and do not confirm increased depression and anxiety rates in pregnant women during the pandemic.

CONCLUSION

The ability of pregnant women to deal with novel generalised threats involves mobilization of inner resources. Increasing sources of social support may have produced anxiolysis in the COVID-19 sample.

COVID-19 related maternal mortality cases in associated with Delta and Omicron waves and the role of lung ultrasound

Objective

To present coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) related maternal mortality in relation to Delta and Omicron waves and to investigate the role of lung ultrasound (LUS) in estimating mortality.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted in the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of a tertiary pandemic hospital between March 2020 and January 2022. The hospitalized pregnant women with COVID-19 diagnosis and maternal deaths were studied in relation with Delta and Omicron waves. The relationship between LUS scores of hospitalized patients and maternal mortality was explored.

Results

Thousand and sixty-five pregnant women were hospitalized because of COVID-19 infection. Fifty-one (4.79%) of these patients had critical sickness, 96 (9.01%) of them had severe illness, 62 (5.82%) of them were admitted to the intensive care unit and 28 (2.63%) of all hospitalized pregnant women had died. Of the 1.065 patients, 783 (73.5%) were hospitalized before the Delta wave and the maternal mortality rate was 1.28% (10/783), 243 (22.8%) were hospitalized during the Delta wave and the maternal mortality rate was 7% (17/243) [relative risk (RR)=5.478, 95% confidence interval (CI) (2.54-11.8), z=4.342, p<0.001]. During the Omicron wave 39 (3.66%) patients were hospitalized and the maternal mortality rate was 2.56% (1/39). Maternal mortality rates, according to LUS scores, were 0.37% (1/273) for LUS 0, 0.72% (2/277) for LUS 1, 2.58% (10/387) for LUS 2 and 11.72% (15/128) for LUS 3 respectively (LUS 3 vs. others; maternal mortality: RR=8.447, 95% CI (4.11-17.34), z=5.814, p<0.0001). There were no vaccinated patients in the study cohort.

Conclusion

The maternal mortality rate was relatively high, particularly during the Delta wave at our referral center. The Delta wave, delayed vaccination and vaccine hesitancy of pregnant women might have important roles in maternal mortality. Higher LUS scores should warn clinicians of an increased risk of maternal death.

Anxiety, attitudes-behaviors, coping styles, and social support among high-risk pregnant women in the late period of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anxiety among high-risk pregnant women in the late period of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and to evaluate the relationship between anxiety levels, attitudes-behaviors, coping styles, and other psychometric parameters.

METHODS

Pregnant women who were followed up in our gynecology outpatient clinic were evaluated during their admissions between November 15, 2020 and February 15, 2021. This cross-sectional study analyzes prospectively collected data from a university hospital. Inclusion criteria were those being at risk of pregnancy and between the age of 18 and 45 years, while exclusion criteria were mental retardation and the presence of serious psychiatric illness. The study included 140 participants. Sociodemographic and pregnant attitudes-behaviors data form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Coping Styles Scale Brief Form (Brief-COPE), and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used to collect data.

RESULTS

Participants had high anxiety levels (State-STAI: 40.32±9.88; Trait-STAI: 42.71±7.32) and high prevalence of probable clinical anxiety [State-STAI: 84 (60.0%); Trait-STAI: 92 (65.7%)]. The fact concerning the transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 to the baby during pregnancy/birth, extent to which coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic prevents regular pregnancy checkups, and family subgroup-Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support predicted state probable clinical anxiety. Use of disinfectants predicted trait probable clinical anxiety. Employment status predicted state/trait probable clinical anxiety. The existence of trait probable clinical anxiety was significantly associated with behavioral disengagement and substance use which are considered ineffective coping styles. Participants without trait probable clinical anxiety had significantly more adopted positive reinterpretation, one of emotion-focused coping styles.

CONCLUSION

Based on our results, the concern of the transmission of the coronavirus disease 2019 to the babies during pregnancy/birth may be the main factor influencing anxiety among high-risk pregnant women.

An internally validated prediction model for critical COVID-19 infection and intensive care unit admission in symptomatic pregnant women

Background

Pregnant women are at an increased risk of mortality and morbidity owing to COVID-19. Many studies have reported on the association of COVID-19 with pregnancy-specific adverse outcomes, but prediction models utilizing large cohorts of pregnant women are still lacking for estimating the risk of maternal morbidity and other adverse events.

Objective

The main aim of this study was to develop a prediction model to quantify the risk of progression to critical COVID-19 and intensive care unit admission in pregnant women with symptomatic infection.

Study Design

This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study including 8 hospitals from 4 countries (the United Kingdom, Austria, Greece, and Turkey). The data extraction was from February 2020 until May 2021. Included were consecutive pregnant and early postpartum women (within 10 days of birth); reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The primary outcome was progression to critical illness requiring intensive care. The secondary outcomes included maternal death, preeclampsia, and stillbirth. The association between the primary outcome and 12 candidate predictors having a known association with severe COVID-19 in pregnancy was analyzed with log-binomial mixed-effects regression and reported as adjusted risk ratios. All the potential predictors were evaluated in 1 model and only the baseline factors in another. The predictive accuracy was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

Of the 793 pregnant women who were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were symptomatic, 44 (5.5%) were admitted to intensive care, of whom 10 died (1.3%). The ‘mini-COvid Maternal Intensive Therapy’ model included the following demographic and clinical variables available at disease onset: maternal age (adjusted risk ratio, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.95; P=.015); body mass index (adjusted risk ratio, 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.66; P=.010); and diagnosis in the third trimester of pregnancy (adjusted risk ratio, 3.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.78–8.46; P=.001). The optimism-adjusted area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.73. The ‘full-COvid Maternal Intensive Therapy’ model included body mass index (adjusted risk ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.07–1.95; P=.015), lower respiratory symptoms (adjusted risk ratio, 5.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.81–21.4; P=.007), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (adjusted risk ratio, 1.62; 95% confidence interval, 1.36–1.89; P<.001); and serum C-reactive protein (adjusted risk ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.15–1.44; P<.001), with an optimism-adjusted area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85. Neither model showed signs of a poor fit. Categorization as high-risk by either model was associated with a shorter diagnosis to intensive care unit admission interval (log-rank test P<.001, both), higher maternal death (5.2% vs 0.2%; P<.001), and preeclampsia (5.7% vs 1.0%; P<.001). A spreadsheet calculator is available for risk estimation.

Conclusion

At presentation with symptomatic COVID-19, pregnant and recently postpartum women can be stratified into high- and low-risk for progression to critical disease, even where resources are limited. This can support the nature and place of care. These models also highlight the independent risk for severe disease associated with obesity and should further emphasize that even in the absence of other comorbidities, vaccination is particularly important for these women. Finally, the model also provides useful information for policy makers when prioritizing national vaccination programs to quickly protect those at the highest risk of critical and fatal COVID-19.

Mental well-being during stages of COVID-19 lockdown among pregnant women and new mothers

Background

Pregnancy and early motherhood are sensitive times where epidemic disease outbreaks can affect mental health negatively. Countries and health care systems handled the pandemic and lockdowns differently and knowledge about how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental well-being of pregnant women and new mothers is limited and points in different directions.

Aim

To investigate symptoms of anxiety and depression in a population of pregnant women and new mothers in various stages of infection pressure and lockdown during the first 15 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark.

Methods

The study population was nested an inception cohort of women recruited in their first trimester of pregnancy. Data about mental health of the woman were obtained in relation to pregnancy and child development (first trimester, 8 weeks postpartum and 5 months postpartum), and data were analysed cross-sectionally according to calendar time (periods defined by infection rate and lock-down during the COVID-19 pandemic).

Results

No differences in reported levels of depressive symptoms between the six examined time periods of the pandemic were observed. Specifically, symptoms remained unchanged after the first lock-down. No major changes in anxiety symptoms were observed in relation to increased infection pressure or lockdowns, but a small increase was observed during the second lockdown in women 8 weeks postpartum.

Conclusion

No clear change in mood among pregnant women was seen between during the stages of COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark.

The impact of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic on stress resilience and mental health: A critical review across waves

The global public health crisis caused by COVID-19 has lasted longer than many of us would have hoped and expected. With its high uncertainty and limited control, the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly asked a lot from all of us. One important central question is: how resilient have we proved in face of the unprecedented and prolonged coronavirus pandemic? There is a vast and rapidly growing literature that has examined the impact of the pandemic on mental health both on the shorter (2020) and longer (2021) term. This not only concerns pandemic-related effects on resilience in the general population, but also how the pandemic has challenged stress resilience and mental health outcomes across more specific vulnerable population groups: patients with a psychiatric disorder, COVID-19 diagnosed patients, health care workers, children and adolescents, pregnant women, and elderly people. It is challenging to keep up to date with, and interpret, this rapidly increasing scientific literature. In this review, we provide a critical overview on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted mental health and how human stress resilience has been shaped by the pandemic on the shorter and longer term. The vast literature is dominated by a wealth of data which are, however, not always of the highest quality and heavily depend on online and self-report surveys. Nevertheless, it appears that we have proven surprisingly resilient over time, with fast recovery from COVID-19 measures. Still, vulnerable groups such as adolescents and health care personnel that have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic do exist. Large interindividual differences exist, and for future pandemics there is a clear need to comprehensively and integratively assess resilience from the start to provide personalized help and interventions tailored to the specific needs for vulnerable groups.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions may contribute to a deterioration in mental health; individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be particularly affected. This systematic review aimed to investigate the effects of the current pandemic on people diagnosed with OCD, and whether pandemics may affect the development of OCD symptoms.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic search using NCBI PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar on February 9, 2021. Research articles related to OCD and COVID-19 or other pandemics were attempted to be identified using pre-defined search terms. Case reports, clinical guidelines, letters, and clinical research articles including ≥100 participants were included; reviews were excluded. The systematic review adheres to PRISMA guidelines and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the included clinical research articles.

RESULTS

A total of 79 articles were included in the full-text assessment. Of these, 59 were clinical research articles, two were clinical guidelines, six were case reports, and 12 were letters. The research articles examined OCD symptoms in adult patients with diagnosed OCD, the general population, pregnant women, healthcare workers, students, and young adults, children, and adolescents. Only one study on OCD in previous pandemics was identified.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review found that people both with and without diagnosed OCD prior to the pandemic generally experienced a worsened landscape of symptoms of OCD during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the responses are heterogeneous and many factors other than the pandemic seemed to affect the development of OCD symptoms. To prevent the impairment of symptoms and the development of new cases, close monitoring of patients with OCD and education of the general public is essential. Literature is still limited; thus, multinational and cross-cultural, longitudinal studies are warranted to gain further insights on this topic.

Elevated risk for obsessive-compulsive symptoms in women pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a public mental health crisis with many people experiencing new or worsening anxiety. Fear of contagion and the lack of predictability/control in daily life increased the risk for problems such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in the general population. Pregnant women may be particularly vulnerable to such pandemic-related stressors yet the prevalence of OC symptoms in this population during the pandemic remains unknown. We examined the prevalence of OC symptoms in a sample of 4451 pregnant women in the USA, recruited via targeted online methods at the start of the pandemic. Participants completed self-report measures including the Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised and the Pandemic-Related Pregnancy Stress Scale. Clinically significant OC symptoms were present in 7.12% of participants, more than twice as high as rates of peripartum OCD reported prior to the pandemic. Younger maternal age, income loss, and suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection were all associated with higher OC symptoms. Two types of pregnancy-specific stress, pandemic-related and pandemic-unrelated, were both associated with higher levels of OC symptoms. Pandemic-related pregnancy stress predicted OC symptoms even after controlling for non-pandemic-related, pregnancy-specific stress. Elevated rates of OC symptoms were observed in women pregnant during the pandemic, particularly those experiencing elevated pandemic-related pregnancy stress. This type of stress confers a distinct risk for OC symptoms above and beyond pregnancy-specific stress and demographic factors. Healthcare providers should be prepared to see and treat more peripartum women with OC symptoms during this and future public health crises.

An Assessment of the Level of COVID-19 Anxiety among Pregnant Women in Poland: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused general anxiety worldwide. Pregnant women are at a much higher risk of developing the infection due to multiple changes that occur in the body during this period. The consequences of the disease can be dramatic not only for the expectant mothers, but also for their unborn children. SARS-CoV-2 infection is generally known to cause serious concerns about future health and life. The data on the severity of COVID-19 pandemic-related anxiety in pregnant women are insufficient. The aim of the study was to assess the level of COVID-19-related anxiety among pregnant women in Poland. Materials and Methods: The study included 173 pregnant women who volunteered for the research. The research was conducted by means of an online diagnostic survey containing an original questionnaire and the following standardized tools: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI), and General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Results: Women hospitalised during pregnancy differed statistically significantly in terms of STAI-X1 scores. Primiparas obtained statistically significantly higher SHAI scores than multiparas. Women with higher education had higher SHAI scores. In the GAD-7 scale, 13.3% of respondents obtained a score suggesting a suspected generalised anxiety disorder. Conclusions: Pregnant women are concerned about both developing COVID-19 and the consequences of infection for themselves and their unborn children. The study demonstrated anxiety of varying severity (depending on the tool used). Hospital stay during pregnancy is an additional stressor in expectant women. Further studies are needed to assess the level of COVID-19-related anxiety to assess this phenomenon in Poland in more detail.

Maternal Mental Health following Ultrasonographic Detection of Fetal Structural Anomaly in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Prenatal ultrasonographic detection of fetal structural anomaly may adversely affect maternal mental health throughout pregnancy, particularly in the current COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to prospectively assess maternal stress, anxiety, and depression following ultrasonographic detection of fetal structural anomaly from diagnosis until delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 141 pregnant women at a tertiary hospital who underwent detailed scans between 16 and 24 gestational weeks were included and categorized into the study (anomaly finding, n = 65) and comparison (normal finding, n = 76) groups. Self-administered questionnaires of 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used to assess maternal stress, anxiety, and depression at prior detection (T₁), two-to-four weeks post-detection (T₂), one-to-two weeks prior to delivery (T₃), and one-to-two weeks post-delivery (T₄). Repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA) were conducted to assess time-, between-group, and time-group interaction effect. In general, maternal stress improved, but anxiety worsened, while depression persisted, over the time from T₁ to T₄. The average maternal stress and anxiety levels were significantly higher among groups with fetal anomaly. The maternal stress and anxiety level were significantly affected within one-to-two weeks post-detection of fetal structural anomaly. In conclusion, maternal mental health parameters were affected differently during the COVID-19 pandemic, with higher vulnerability of stress and anxiety among pregnant women with fetal structural anomaly particularly within one-to-two weeks post-detection.

The effect of online solution-focused support program on parents with high level of anxiety in the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomised controlled study

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine the anxiety levels of parents with children aged 3-6 years because of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to examine the effects of Solution-Focused Support Program (SFSP) applied to parents with a high level of anxiety.

METHODS

The study was conducted as a parallel-group, randomised controlled design. The sample of the study consisted of 77 parents who were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (control group n = 40; intervention group n = 37). One session of online SFSP was applied to the intervention group each week and 4 sessions were applied in total. No intervention was applied to the control group. The data were collected using introductory information form and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) programme and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) 23 application were used in the analysis of the data. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to examine a hypothesised model that SFSP has both direct and indirect effects on the anxiety levels of parents.

RESULTS

The state and trait anxiety mean scores of the intervention group decreased compared with the pre-intervention mean scores after the implemented programme. While this difference between state anxiety scores was statistically significant (P ≤ .001), the difference between trait anxiety scores was not statistically significant (P > .05). There was no statistically significant difference between the pre-test and post-test STAI total scores of the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

In the study, it has been found that SFSP applied to parents with a high level of anxiety is an effective method in reducing the state anxiety levels of parents.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of pregnant women with diabetes mellitus and hypertension

OBJECTIVE

Psychological effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on pregnant women with diabetes and hypertension are not yet studied. Besides the pregnancy, these women have additional risk factors for severe acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19 and are considered a particularly vulnerable, unique population. We aimed to assess their mental health during this pandemic.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study carried out at a Brazilian tertiary hospital. Women with pregnancies complicated by hypertension and/or diabetes were evaluated. The primary outcome was anxiety, and depressive symptoms evaluated with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Patient Health Questionnaire. Perception of changing habits during quarantine was evaluated as a secondary outcome.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine patients were included. The prevalence of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory ≥40 was 79.7% and that of Patient Health Questionnaire ≥10 was 59.2%. Lower social support was correlated with higher scores on both scales. Time spent with electronic devices was perceived as greater by 62% of the women.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnant women with diabetes and hypertension presented high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering that these symptoms can affect both the mother's and offspring's health, it is necessary to implement tools to improve their mental health.

Psychological impact of COVID-19 and contributing factors of students' preventive behavior based on HBM in Gondar, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

The Ethiopian Federal government has locked down schools as one measure to contain Covid-19 pandemic. Psychological effect of COVID-19 on students is increased due to the reopening of schools. The psychological effect of the pandemic is increasing along with physical aspect of health. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the psychological impact of Covid-19 and its contributing factors of students' behavior in Ethiopia.

METHODS

A cross sectional design was conducted from November to December 2020. Data were collected using pre tested self- administered questionnaire from secondary school students in Gondar city North West Ethiopia. Stratified simple random sampling technique was used to select 403 secondary school students. Data were entered and cleaned with Epidata version 4.62 and exported for analysis STATA version 14. Multivariable logistic regression and multiple linear regression were used to show the association of dependent and independent variables. Independent variables in relation to dependent variable measured using odd ratios and B coefficient with 95% confidence interval for Covid-19 anxiety and preventive behavior of Covid-19 respectively were used.

RESULTS

A total of 370 students were participated giving response rate of 92%. The prevalence of Covid-19 anxiety and obsession among secondary school students were 38.1% and 40.27% respectively. Being 11thgrade 54% (AOR = 0.46; 95%CI:0.22, 0.95) and increased knowledge16% (AOR = 0.84;95%CI: 0.77, 0.89) score associated with decreased COVID-19 anxiety while Covid-19 obsession, 14.51 times (AOR = 14.51;95%CI: 8.05, 26.17), and being female 1.6 times (AOR = 1.6; 95%CI: 1.01, 2.51) increased Covid-19 Anxiety. Furthermore, increased self-efficacy 0.5 times (B = 0.5; 95%CI: 0.28, 0.62), and increased cues to action 0.4 times (B = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.69) increased preventive behavior of Covid-19 while perceived barrier 0.1 times (B = -0.1; 95%CI:-0.22, 0.01) decrease preventive behavior of Covid-19.

CONCLUSION

Almost two individuals of five participants developed COVID-19 anxiety and COVID-19 obsession. Being grade 11th and knowledge were negatively associated with anxiety while being female and being obsessed with COVID-19 were positively associated with anxiety. No variable was associated with obsession of Covid-19. Intervention is needed to reduce anxiety among females. Furthermore, perceived barrier, self-efficacy and cues to action were significant factors of preventive behaviour of Covid-19. Therefore, to increase preventive behaviour of Covid-19, information, education and communication and behavioural change communication should be targeted on reducing barriers and increasing motivations and confidences.

Comparison of the Mental Health Impact of COVID-19 on Vulnerable and Non-Vulnerable Groups: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Vulnerable populations may be more vulnerable to mental health problems posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A systematic review was performed to compare the mental health impact of COVID-19 between vulnerable and non-vulnerable groups. Five electronic databases were searched for observational studies reporting the psychological outcomes of both vulnerable populations and healthy controls during the COVID-19 era. The primary outcomes are the severity of depression and anxiety, and secondary outcomes include other aspects of mental health such as stress or sleep disturbance. Meta-analysis was performed for the severity of mental health symptoms, and the results were presented as standardized mean difference and 95% confidence intervals. A total of 25 studies were included. According to the findings, the elderly generally experienced significantly lower levels of psychological symptoms including depression, anxiety, and perceived stress. Pregnant women, patients with chronic diseases, and patients with pre-existing severe mental disorders showed mixed results according to each mental health outcome. The results indicate that vulnerable groups have been affected differently in the COVID-19 era. Though the insufficient number and heterogeneity of included studies leave the results inconclusive, our findings may contribute to identifying priorities of mental health needs among various vulnerable populations and allocating health resources with efficiency.

Mental health indicators in pregnant women compared with women in the general population during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Denmark

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic and the associated regulations issued to minimize risk of disease transmission seem to have had an impact on general mental health in most populations, but it may have affected pregnant women even more because of pregnancy‐related uncertainties, limited access to healthcare resources, and lack of social support. We aimed to compare the mental health response among pregnant women with that in similarly aged women from the general population during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Material and methods

From April 14 to July 3, 2020, 647 pregnant women in their second trimester were enrolled in this study. For comparison, 858 women from the general Danish population (20–46 years) were sampled from an ongoing observational study. Participants responded to a questionnaire including six mental health indicators (concern level, perceived social isolation, quality of life, anxiety, mental health, and loneliness). Loneliness was measured using the UCLA Three‐item Loneliness Scale and anxiety by the Common Mental Health Disorder Questionnaire 4‐item Anxiety Subscale.

Results

The pregnant women had better scores during the entire study period for all mental health indicators, and except for concerns, social isolation, and mental health, the differences were also statistically significant. Pregnant women were more concerned about becoming seriously ill (40.2% vs. 29.5%, p < 0.001), whereas the general population was more concerned about economic consequences and prospects. Many pregnant women reported negative feelings associated with being pregnant during the COVID‐19 pandemic and concerns regarding social isolation and regulation‐imposed partner absence during hospital appointments and childbirth. All mental health indicators improved as Denmark began to reopen after the first wave of the pandemic.

Conclusions

Pregnant women exhibited lower rates of poor mental health compared with the general population. However, they were more concerned about becoming seriously ill, expressed negative feelings about being pregnant during the pandemic, and were worried about the absence of their partner due to imposed regulations. These finding may be taken into account by policy‐makers during pandemics to balance specific preventive measures over the potential mental health deterioration of pregnant women.

Use of Mobile Applications by Pregnant Women and Levels of Pregnancy Distress During the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic

OBJECTIVE

Pregnancy and postpartum periods require continuity in care and counseling. During the pandemic process, telemedicine and telenursing applications have been used to meet the need for healthcare throughout the world, and skills in this area have been developed. This study aimed to identify the use of mobile applications by pregnant women in receiving health information, counseling, and healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic and their distress levels during pregnancy.

METHODS

This research was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study was designed as an online survey administered between August 2020 and November 2020 via a questionnaire and the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS). A total of 376 women agreed to participate in the study. Women were included if they were literate, had a gestational age of ≥ 12th weeks, and accommodated within the Republic of Turkey's boundaries.

RESULTS

A total of 77.9% of participants reported using pregnancy-related mobile applications during the pandemic. The mean total Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale score was 24.09, and 37.2% of the participants were found to be at risk for high distress according to the cut-off point. There was a significant difference between the change in receiving health services and the anxiety about coronavirus transmission and the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale total score. (p ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study helped understand the pandemic's impact on pregnancy distress and usage of mobile health applications by pregnant women during the pandemic. Also, our results indicate that a decrease in pregnant women receiving health services during this period. Mobile health applications appear to be usable for prenatal follow-ups because mobile applications are common among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

One Year Into the Pandemic: A Systematic Review of Perinatal Mental Health Outcomes During COVID-19

Obstetric guidelines have rapidly evolved to incorporate new data and research on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with data on perinatal mental health building over the last year. Our aim in the present manuscript is to provide a systematic review of mental health outcomes in pregnant and postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of neonatal and obstetric guidelines addressing symptoms and complications of COVID-19 during pregnancy, mother-to-neonate transmission, Cesarean-section delivery, neonatal prematurity, maternal/neonate mortalities, maternal-neonatal separation, and breastfeeding. We summarize data from 81 mental health studies of pregnant and postpartum women and underscore protective and risk factors identified for perinatal mental health outcomes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Data reviewed here suggest increased psychological symptoms, especially depressive and anxiety symptoms, in pregnant and postpartum women during COVID-19. Our systematic review integrates the most current obstetric and neonate guidelines, along with perinatal mental health outcomes associated with COVID-19, highlighting the best available data for the care of women and their neonates amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Perinatal Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Integrative Review and Implications for Clinical Practice

The COVID-19 pandemic and measures implemented to decelerate its spread have consequences for mental health of societies. The aim of our review was to analyze depressive and anxiety symptoms in perinatal women. The search used PubMed and Web of Science databases. Most studies showed an increase in the prevalence of depression and/or anxiety symptoms. Risk factors identified in our study were mainly related to the possibility of COVID-19 infection, changes in the organization of perinatal care, social isolation and financial problems. Protective factors included social support, the woman's own activity and knowledge about COVID-19. The results of our study point to the importance of the mental health screening including suicide risk assessment in perinatal women. Much of the mental health needs of perinatal women can be met in primary or perinatal care services; however, women with mental health issues should be offered psychiatric consultations and psychological support, and sometimes urgent psychiatric hospitalization is necessary. Healthcare professionals should provide information addressing uncertainty about COVID-19, organization of midwifery and medical care as well as mental health problems and how to get help. Mental health interventions in pregnant women may involve planning physical activity and encouraging to engage in online social activities.

Anxiety and depressive symptoms of women in the perinatal period during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

The prevalence of perinatal anxiety and depressive symptoms have been speculated to increase during an infectious disease outbreak but remains unknown in the context of the COVID-19 situation. Therefore, this review aimed to examine the prevalence of antenatal and postnatal anxiety and depressive symptoms among pregnant women and postpartum mothers during the COVID-19 period.

METHODS

Six electronic databases were systematically searched for articles from November 2019 to December 2020. Twenty-six observational studies and brief reports were included in the meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, the prevalence of anxiety was greater than depression in both antenatal and postnatal periods, and the prevalence of depression was higher in the antenatal period than the postnatal period. The pooled prevalence for antenatal anxiety symptoms, antenatal depressive symptoms and postnatal depressive symptoms were 40% (95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.27-0.52), 27% (95% CI: 0.20-0.33) and 17% (95% CI: 0.10-0.24), respectively. Europe (56%, 95% CI: 0.28-0.85) had significantly higher prevalence of antenatal anxiety than Asia (16%, 95% CI: 0.09-0.23).

CONCLUSIONS

The heightened prevalence of perinatal psychological disorders served as an impetus for healthcare professionals and policy makers to ramp up their support and mitigation strategies for pregnant women and mothers in times of health crisis.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on specific symptom dimensions and severity in OCD: A comparison before and during COVID-19 in the context of stress responses

The present study aimed to compare a group of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD; N = 270) before and during COVID-19 on specific obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptom dimensions and symptom severity. In addition, the study aimed to evaluate the associations of COVID-19-related stress responses with change in OC symptom dimensions and severity of symptoms as the result of the pandemic. Results showed that patients with OCD had higher scores on all OC symptom dimensions and symptom severity during the pandemic as compared to their scores from before the pandemic. Thus, the effect of COVID-19 is not limited to an increase in fears of contamination alone, but occurs across other symptom dimensions, including responsibility for harm, unacceptable thoughts, and symmetry. In addition, regression analyses indicated that COVID-19-related stress responses significantly predicted the observed increase in specific OC symptom dimensions and general severity, after controlling for pre-COVID-19 scores of symptoms and severity. The increase of symptoms as the result of COVID-19 might be best understood in the context of a non-specific stress-related response similar to the effects observed in non-clinical and other clinical populations.

Stress and Anxiety Levels in Pregnant and Post-Partum Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The aim of this study was to analyze stress and anxiety levels experienced by pregnant and post-partum women during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to indicate the social and medical factors that could contribute to stress and anxiety. A total of 210 patients were enrolled in the study. Two well-established test-tools were applied: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). The study revealed that the levels of stress and anxiety experienced by the surveyed patients were moderate to high. We demonstrated that women with mental treatment history, those in the first trimester of pregnancy and the ones that are single or in an informal relationship tend to experience higher levels of psychological distress and anxiety. Such factors as age, education, parity, eventful obstetric history, comorbidities, and the number of hospital stays proved to be statistically insignificant in the analysis. Our findings could be used to identify patients at greater risk of experiencing adverse mental effects and to provide them with adequate psychological support. Further multi-center studies are warranted in order to draw final conclusions.

Antenatal Care Service Utilization of Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Public Hospitals During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period

BACKGROUND

The recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had a disastrous effect on the health-care delivery system, of mainly pregnancy-related healthcare. In order to fill the information gap in the scientific literature and in response to the limited evidence in the country, this study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antenatal care utilization among pregnant women attending public facilities in Northeast Ethiopia. Therefore, the result will be beneficial to design strategies for prioritizing maternal healthcare even with the COVID-19 pandemic period.

METHODS

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2 to August 30, 2020 among pregnant women attending ANC services at public hospitals in Northeast Ethiopia. Thus, a total of 389 women were included in the study with a simple random sampling technique. The bi-variable and multi-variable logistic regression models were employed to identify factors significantly associated with ANC utilization. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% CI was estimated to show the strength of association. Finally, a P-value of <0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of antenatal care utilization.

RESULTS

Overall, 114 (29.3%) pregnant women had fully utilized antenatal care services during the pandemic period. Mother age ≥35 years (AOR=11.79, 95% CI=1.18- 117.8), secondary education and above (AOR=4.74, 95% CI=1.04- 21.61), history of stillbirth before recent pregnancy (AOR=0.007, 95% CI=0.001-0.12), interruption and diversion of services due to COVID-19 response (AOR=0.675, 95% CI=0.142-0.742), fear of COVID-19 (AOR=0.13, 95% CI=0.06-0.31), and lack of transport access (AOR=4.15, 95% CI=1.04-16.54) were predictors of full antenatal care service utilization.

CONCLUSION

Three of every ten pregnant women who attended the obstetric outpatient clinics have fully utilized the antenatal care services. Encouraging women's educational status, prioritizing maternal health services during COVID-19, and improving the quality of ANC service should be emphasized more.