Efforts and Expectations of Pregnant Women Against the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Phenomenological Study

Overview

Journal BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2023 Jan 21

PMID 36681793

Authors

Arlina Dewi

Triantoro Safaria

Supriyatiningsih Supriyatiningsih

Dyah Tri Kusuma Dewi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 is a global threat that directly impacts people's mental health and physical well-being. This study explored the efforts and expectations of pregnant women against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This study was a qualitative study that used a phenomenological approach. The informants of this study were pregnant women (n = 20). Data analysis used content analysis with software assistance (Nvivo Release 1.5).

Results: The results of this study identified three themes which were: 1) causative factors of pregnant women's anxiety regarding the impact of COVID-19 including lack of knowledge regarding the impact of the COVID-19 virus and perceived susceptibility; 2) Efforts to reduce anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic including a spiritual approach, the role of family and COVID-19 prevention; and 3) Expectation regarding healthcare services during COVID-19 including virtual based Antenatal Care (ANC) Services and Private ANC Services.

Conclusion: A spiritual approach, the role of family, and COVID-19 prevention will help pregnant women reduce their anxiety about being infected with the COVID-19 virus. Furthermore, virtual-based ANC Services, and private ANC services, such as home visits and dividing ANC services and general services into two different tracks as a protective mechanism from being infected with the COVID-19 virus, would assist pregnant women feel safer and secure.

References

Aziz A, Zork N, Aubey J, Baptiste C, DAlton M, Emeruwa U . Telehealth for High-Risk Pregnancies in the Setting of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Am J Perinatol. 2020; 37(8):800-808. PMC: 7356069. DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1712121. View

Chen Y, Schulz P . The Effect of Information Communication Technology Interventions on Reducing Social Isolation in the Elderly: A Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res. 2016; 18(1):e18. PMC: 4751336. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.4596. View

Bjelica A, Cetkovic N, Trninic-Pjevic A, Mladenovic-Segedi L . The phenomenon of pregnancy - a psychological view. Ginekol Pol. 2018; 89(2):102-106. DOI: 10.5603/GP.a2018.0017. View

Izhar R, Husain S, Tahir M, Husain S, Hussain S . Pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic: Knowledge, concerns, attitudes and practices of Pakistani women. Eur J Midwifery. 2021; 5:54. PMC: 8611455. DOI: 10.18332/ejm/142818. View

Lebel C, MacKinnon A, Bagshawe M, Tomfohr-Madsen L, Giesbrecht G . Elevated depression and anxiety symptoms among pregnant individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Affect Disord. 2020; 277:5-13. PMC: 7395614. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.07.126. View

Sikali K . The dangers of social distancing: How COVID-19 can reshape our social experience. J Community Psychol. 2020; 48(8):2435-2438. PMC: 7461541. DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22430. View

Fischbein R, Nicholas L, Kingsbury D, Falletta L, Baughman K, VanGeest J . State anxiety in pregnancies affected by obstetric complications: A systematic review. J Affect Disord. 2019; 257:214-240. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.07.007. View

Meaney S, Leitao S, Olander E, Pope J, Matvienko-Sikar K . The impact of COVID-19 on pregnant womens' experiences and perceptions of antenatal maternity care, social support, and stress-reduction strategies. Women Birth. 2021; 35(3):307-316. PMC: 9051126. DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2021.04.013. View

Choukou M, Sanchez-Ramirez D, Pol M, Uddin M, Monnin C, Syed-Abdul S . COVID-19 infodemic and digital health literacy in vulnerable populations: A scoping review. Digit Health. 2022; 8:20552076221076927. PMC: 8874333. DOI: 10.1177/20552076221076927. View

10.

Zhong B, Luo W, Li H, Zhang Q, Liu X, Li W . Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among Chinese residents during the rapid rise period of the COVID-19 outbreak: a quick online cross-sectional survey. Int J Biol Sci. 2020; 16(10):1745-1752. PMC: 7098034. DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.45221. View

11.

Dubey S, Biswas P, Ghosh R, Chatterjee S, Dubey M, Chatterjee S . Psychosocial impact of COVID-19. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2020; 14(5):779-788. PMC: 7255207. DOI: 10.1016/j.dsx.2020.05.035. View

12.

Delello J, McWhorter R . Reducing the Digital Divide: Connecting Older Adults to iPad Technology. J Appl Gerontol. 2015; 36(1):3-28. DOI: 10.1177/0733464815589985. View

13.

Evans K, Spiby H, Morrell C . Developing a complex intervention to support pregnant women with mild to moderate anxiety: application of the Medical Research Council framework. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020; 20(1):777. PMC: 7734709. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03469-8. View

14.

Moyer C, Compton S, Kaselitz E, Muzik M . Pregnancy-related anxiety during COVID-19: a nationwide survey of 2740 pregnant women. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2020; 23(6):757-765. PMC: 7522009. DOI: 10.1007/s00737-020-01073-5. View

15.

Yue C, Liu C, Wang J, Zhang M, Wu H, Li C . Association between social support and anxiety among pregnant women in the third trimester during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in Qingdao, China: The mediating effect of risk perception. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2020; 67(2):120-127. PMC: 7348553. DOI: 10.1177/0020764020941567. View

16.

Akgor U, Fadiloglu E, Soyak B, Unal C, Cagan M, Temiz B . Anxiety, depression and concerns of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2021; 304(1):125-130. PMC: 7802427. DOI: 10.1007/s00404-020-05944-1. View

17.

Peahl A, Smith R, Moniz M . Prenatal care redesign: creating flexible maternity care models through virtual care. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020; 223(3):389.e1-389.e10. PMC: 7231494. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.05.029. View

18.

Puertas-Gonzalez J, Marino-Narvaez C, Peralta-Ramirez M, Romero-Gonzalez B . The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant women. Psychiatry Res. 2021; 301:113978. PMC: 8086375. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.113978. View

19.

Hossain M, Tasnim S, Sultana A, Faizah F, Mazumder H, Zou L . Epidemiology of mental health problems in COVID-19: a review. F1000Res. 2020; 9:636. PMC: 7549174. DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.24457.1. View

20.

Kim M, Kweon O, Lim Y, Choi S, Chung J, Lee M . Impact of social distancing on the spread of common respiratory viruses during the coronavirus disease outbreak. PLoS One. 2021; 16(6):e0252963. PMC: 8202938. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252963. View