Pregnant Women’s Mental Health Status and its Related Factors Amidst COVID-19: A Cross- Sectional Study

Authors

  • Pratima Thapa College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2709-4986
  • Binita Dhakal College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
  • Upasana Shrestha Nobel College, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Srijana Gautam Adhikari Gandaki Medical College, Pokhara, Nepal
  • Sunayana Shrestha Lumbini Province Hospital, Rupandehi, Nepal

Keywords:

Anxiety, COVID-19, Depression, Pregnant women, Stress

Abstract

Introduction: Since the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, it has challenged the psychological aspect of everyone. Pregnant women being the vulnerable group are most likely to be at increased risk. This study aimed to assess the mental health status of the pregnant women residing in Nepal during COVID-19.

Methods: A cross-sectional online study was carried out among 368 pregnant women during lockdown using Perceived stress scale-10, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale and Edinburg Perinatal Depression Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 27.06±4.64years. Getting infected with the virus (71.7%) was the major fear and inadequate antenatal checkup (61.1%) was the major effect experienced by the participants. The prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression was 41%, 28.5% and 33.2% respectively. Age, salary status of oneself and their husband, healthcare frontliner in the family and effect of social distancing were significantly associated with perceived stress. Age, education, employment, monthly income, trimester and effect of social distancing were significantly associated with anxiety. Salary status of husband, trimester, parity, being infected with COVID-19 and effect of social distancing were associated with depression.

Conclusion: High prevalence of mental health disorders during COVID-19 outbreak suggests the importance of special attention on monitoring the maternal mental health status during such public health emergencies. Measures such as awareness program targeted to pregnant women and health education programs on how to cope during the pandemic situations should be made effective to rule down the mental health burden of COVID-19.

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Author Biographies

Pratima Thapa, College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal

Lecturer, College of Nursing

Binita Dhakal, College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal

Lecturer, College of Nursing

Upasana Shrestha, Nobel College, Kathmandu, Nepal

Lecturer, College of Nursing

Srijana Gautam Adhikari, Gandaki Medical College, Pokhara, Nepal

Lecturer, College of Nursing

Sunayana Shrestha, Lumbini Province Hospital, Rupandehi, Nepal

Nursing Officer

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Published

2021-06-30

How to Cite

Thapa, P., Dhakal, B., Shrestha, U., Adhikari, S. G., & Shrestha, S. (2021). Pregnant Women’s Mental Health Status and its Related Factors Amidst COVID-19: A Cross- Sectional Study. Journal of Lumbini Medical College, 9(1). Retrieved from https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/JLMC/article/view/41309

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles