Knowledge, Fear, and Anxiety Levels Among Pregnant Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate pregnant women’s knowledge, fear, and anxiety levels during the coronavirus outbreak. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 170 pregnant women between May 20 and July 10, 2020. Data collection form for demographics and obstetric details, questionnaire on knowledge, attitudes, and practice toward COVID-19, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-I were used. The vast majority of pregnant women were afraid of being infected with the COVID-19 and causing mother-to-baby transmission. A positive correlation was found between fear of coronavirus transmission and the level of anxiety (p < .05). Risk perceptions regarding COVID-19 have affected the anxiety and knowledge levels of pregnant women. Based on the findings, knowledge levels, concerns, and fears about the risk of COVID-19 exposure have implications on the anxiety levels of pregnant women. Pregnant women experienced high stress and anxiety levels due to increased risk of COVID-19 transmission during face-to-face antenatal visits.

Fear and Anxiety in Pregnant Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

“…Finally, 17 articles were included in the review (30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46) that measured levels of fear or anxiety in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

“…The origins of the different studies were varied: four of them had been carried out in Turkey (32,34,39,43); three in Poland (35,36,40); two in China (33,45); and the following countries were represented with one study each: Spain (30); Romania (42); Brazil (41); Egypt (38); Nepal (37); the Netherlands (31); and Italy (44). Finally, one multinational study was also included (46).…”

“…Assessing the levels of fear and anxiety in pregnant women was the main objective of this review and both variables were identified in 7 (31)(32)(33)(34)40,42,45) and 13 (30,32,(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(41)(42)(43)(44)46) studies, respectively. Other factors related to the psychological impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the pregnant women were: stress (30,40) or depression (38,39,43,45,46).…”

“…Both fear and anxiety were assessed using different measurement tools: fear was assessed using, W-DEQ-A (34), FOC-6 (40), and ad hoc Fear scale (42,45). On the other hand, anxiety was assessed with STAI (32,35,36,44), GAD-7 (36,46), PRAQ-20 (30), KLP-II (35,40), HAM-A (37), Kuas, Spielberg's State Anxiety Inventory (34), HADS (39), BAI (41), and IDAS II (43). Lastly, the PSS (30) and PSS-10 (40) were used to measure stress.…”

Maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection in our tertiary hospital

“…[10] In the process, there were beliefs that the fertility of vaccinated women would be adversely affected, and that there would be a teratogenic effect on the fetus in pregnant women. [11,12] However, with the increase in information about the vaccine, it has been proven that there is no such result. Currently, many associations, especially the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mention that it is possible to be vaccinated at any time of pregnancy.…”