This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in order to determine the extent of internet use by pregnant women to gain information about their pregnancy. The research was conducted in two hospitals in Izmir, Turkey between August and October 2009, after written permission had been obtained. The research sample consisted of 185 pregnant women in at least the 28th week of pregnancy, who accepted to take part in the study. Forty-five percent of the pregnant women had used the internet to obtain information at least once during their pregnancy, and the most researched topics were fetal development, nutrition in pregnancy and the stages of birth. There is a significant difference between the age group, educational level, work status and number of pregnancies and the usage of internet among pregnant women. The women gave the information on the internet 7.13 ± 1.54 out of 10 points for correctness and dependability. Fifty-one percent of the pregnant women stated that they shared the information which they had obtained on the internet with health professionals. About half of the women in the study had used the internet to obtain information on pregnancy, birth and the fetus under various headings.
Purpose
This study aimed to examine the challenges faced by pregnant women and their daily life activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assess the psychological impacts of the pandemic and their expectations to improve women's mental health, thereby increasing the awareness of healthcare professionals of the subject.
Methods
The research was conducted with the participation of 30 pregnant women, who were selected by purposive sampling using the phenomenological approach, between 15 June 2020 and 15 August 2020. Telephone interviews were conducted with pregnant women due to social isolation measures during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Results
In the study, the following four themes were determined: (a) measures taken against the pandemic, (b) problems regarding the antenatal period during the pandemic, (c) gestation period and change in social life, (d) psychological effects of the pandemic and methods for coping with them. Also, 14 sub-themes were determined regarding these themes.
Conclusion
The results of the study revealed that the pandemic had multidimensional impacts on pregnant women, including their social life and physical health. Psychologically, it caused many negative emotional states, particularly concerns and fears. During the pandemic, healthcare professionals should be aware of the needs of pregnant women and plan protective and informative interventions for both their physiological and psychological health.
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