Citation

Kajdy A, Sys D, Pokropek A, Shaw SW, Chang TY, Calda P, Acharya G, Ben-Zion M, Biron-Shental T, Borowski D, Czuba B, Etchegaray A, Feduniw S, Garcia-Mandujano R, Garcia Santacruz M, Gil MM, Hassan S, Kwiatkowski S, Martin-Arias A, Martinez-Portilla RJ, Prefumo F, Rabijewski M, Salomon LJ, Tiller H, Verlohren S, Voon HY, Fernando Yanque-Robles O, Yong SL, Poon LC. Int. J. Gynaecol. Obstet. 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1002/ijgo.14388

PMID

35932096

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Mind-COVID is a prospective cross-sectional study aimed to assess risk factors for anxiety and depression among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study compares outcomes in middle-income economies and high-income economies.

METHODS: 7,102 pregnant women from 12 high-income economies and 9 middle-income economies were included. The web-based survey used two standardised instruments, GAD-7 and PHQ-9.

RESULT: Pregnant women in high-income economies reported higher PHQ-9 (0.18 SD, p<<0.001) and GAD-7 (0.08 SD, p=0.005) scores than those living in middle-income economies. Multivariate regression analysis showed that increasing PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales were associated with mental health problems during pregnancy and the need of psychiatric treatment before pregnancy. PHQ-9 was associated with feeling of burden related to restrictions in social distancing and access to leisure activities. GAD-7 scores were associated with a pregnancy-related complication, fear of adverse outcomes in children related to COVID-19 and feeling of burden related to finances.

CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, the imposed public health measures and hospital restrictions have left pregnant women more vulnerable during these difficult times. Adequate partner and family support during pregnancy and childbirth can be one of the most important protective factors against anxiety and depression, regardless of national economic status.

Language: en

Keywords

Cross-Sectional Studies; mental health; anxiety; depression; pregnant women; covid-19; economic status; Patient Health Questionnaire