COVID-19 Related Trauma, Stress and Depression in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnancy, a particular time for women, has been marred by fear, anxiety, and uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic. In this global pandemic, literature highlighted the importance of psychological effects on people, especially in a vulnerable population. This study was conducted to investigate the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on traumatic anxiety, depression, and stress in pregnant women. Methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study, and 360 pregnant women were analyzed between September 2020 and February 2021. The collected data were evaluated by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression Anxiety Stress (DASS-21) scale. Results: This study found that the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress in pregnant during the pandemic was 64.8%, 59.9%, and 43.2%, respectively. The depression and anxiety levels and IES-R score of pregnant women were moderate. Conclusion: Therefore, steps must be taken to enhance the mental strength of pregnant by developing the necessary and suitable consultation strategies during the pandemic.