The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Stress Levels of Pregnant Women
Öz
Aim: This study aims to determine the effects of the COVID-19 process on pregnant women in the second and third trimesters, as well as the stress they have experienced and their health behaviors.
Material and Methods: The research is of descriptive cross-sectional type. The sample size was calculated using the G*Power program. Necessary permissions were obtained for the research.
Due to restrictions in the data collection time period (November 2020-April 2021), 204 participants were reached by convenience sampling method using the online survey tool. A survey form consisting of three parts was used as a data collection tool. Personal information form including questions about sociodemographic characteristics, birth history, pregnancy and pandemic; Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale were employed. High scores on the Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale indicate an increased level of stress during pregnancy. A high score on the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale indicates a high level of anxiety experienced during the coronavirus. In the study, number and percentage values were given, regression and correlation analysis and nonparametric tests were performed.
Results: It was found that pregnant women experienced moderate stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some obstetric characteristics such as gestational week, having problems in this and previous pregnancies, feeling fear of delivery, and having problems in previous delivery affected stress and COVID-19 anxiety. It has been observed that future anxiety increases in pregnant women who consider the measures taken as inadequate. The mean scores of the scales used in the study are 42.99 ± 24.58 (Min-max: 6-116, median: 40) for Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale, 2.60±3.26 (Min-max: 0-19, median: 2) for Coronavirus Anxiety Scale.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the factors contributing to increased stress and anxiety in pregnant women.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Anxiety, COVID-19, pandemic, pregnant woman, stress
Etik Beyan
Ethics committee approvals were received for this study from the Ministry of Health Scientific Research Platform (03.06.2020) and the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Giresun University (09.11.2020/12). Pregnant women were informed within the scope of the Declaration of Helsinki principles. Approvals were obtained from the researchers who conducted the validity and reliability study of the measurement tools. The literature used is shown in the references section.
Kaynakça
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