Abstract
Introduction. The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, has affected the whole world. Pregnant women who are expected to give birth during this period are one of the most important groups affected by these processes.
The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between the fear of childbirth and anxiety among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and Methods. The cross-sectional study was conducted on 181 pregnant women in a city in the eastern region of Turkey between July and November 2020.
Results. Mid-level fear of childbirth was experienced by 44.8% of pregnant women. A positive correlation was found between the average anxiety score of pregnant women and childbirth fear.
Conclusions. The findings of the study will guide healthcare professionals in finding applicable solutions to the problems experienced by pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
References
Zhu N, Zhang D, Wang W, Li X, Yang B, Song J, et al. A novel coronavirus from patients with pneumonia in China, 2019. New England Journal of Medicine. 2020;382(8):727–733. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2001017
WHO. Timeline: WHO's COVID-19 response [Internet]. 2021. Available from: https://www.who.int/news/item/29-06-2020-covidtimeline
Gao J, Zheng P, Jia Y, Chen H, Mao Y, Chen S, et al. Mental health problems and social media exposure during COVID-19 outbreak. PLOS ONE. 2020;15(4):e0231924. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231924
Wang C, Pan R, Wan X, Tan Y, Xu L, Ho CS, et al. Immediate psychological responses and associated factors during the initial stage of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic among the general population in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17(5):1729. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051729
Taylor S. The psychology of pandemics: preparing for the next global outbreak of infectious disease. Cambridge Scholars Publishing; 2019. Available from: https://cambridgescholars.com/product/978-1-5275-3959-4
Kajdy A, Feduniw S, Ajdacka U, Modzelewski J, Baranowska B, Sys D, et al. Risk factors for anxiety and depression among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medicine. 2020;99(30):e21279. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000021279
Taubman – Ben-Ari O, Chasson M, Abu Sharkia S, Weiss E. Distress and anxiety associated with COVID-19 among Jewish and Arab pregnant women in Israel. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology. 2020;38(3):340–348. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2020.1786037
Almeida M, Shrestha AD, Stojanac D, Miller LJ. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s mental health. Archives of Women’s Mental Health. 2020 Dec;23(6):741–748. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01092-2
Kajdy A, Feduniw S, Ajdacka U, Modzelewski J, Baranowska B, Sys D, et al. Risk factors for anxiety and depression among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Medicine. 2020;99(30):e21279. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000021279
Durankuş F, Aksu E. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety and depressive symptoms in pregnant women: a preliminary study. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. 2020;35(2):205–211. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/14767058.2020.1763946
Ng J, Sham A, Tang PL, Fung S. SARS: pregnant women’s fears and perceptions. British Journal of Midwifery. 2004;12(11):698–702. Available from: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2004.12.11.16710
Taubman – Ben‐Ari O, Chasson M, Abu‐Sharkia S. Childbirth anxieties in the shadow of COVID‐19: self‐compassion and social support among Jewish and Arab pregnant women in Israel. Health & Social Care in the Community. 2020;29(5):1409–1419. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13196
Çiçek Ö, Mete SA. Common Problem: Fear of Childbirth. DEUHFED. 2015;8(4):263-268. Available from: https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/deuhfed/issue/46801/586850
Lok KY-W, Ko RWT, Fan HSL, Wong JY, Choi EP, Shek NWM, et al. International survey on fear and childbirth experience in pregnancy and the postpartum period during the COVID-19 pandemic: study protocol. BMJ Open. 2021;11(8):e050132. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050132
Dymecka J, Gerymski R, Iszczuk A, Bidzan M. Fear of coronavirus, stress and fear of childbirth in Polish pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021;18(24):13111. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413111
Lebel C, MacKinnon A, Bagshawe M, Tomfohr-Madsen L, Giesbrecht G. Elevated depression and anxiety symptoms among pregnant individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2020;277:5–13. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.07.126
Nanjundaswamy MH, Shiva L, Desai G, Ganjekar S, Kishore T, Ram U, et al. COVID-19-related anxiety and concerns expressed by pregnant and postpartum women—a survey among obstetricians. Archives of Women’s Mental Health. 2020;23(6):787–790. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01060-w
Öner N, Le Compte A. Discontinuous state / trait anxiety inventory handbook (2nd Edition). Istanbul: Bogazici University; 1998.
Korukcu O, Kukulu K, Firat MZ. The reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) with pregnant women. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 2012;19(3):193–202. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2850.2011.01694.x
Korukcu O, Deliktas A, Aydin R, Kabukcuoglu K. Investigation of the relationship between the psychosocial health status and fear of childbirth in healthy pregnancies. Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences. 2017;7(4):152–158. Available from: https://doi.org/10.5152/clinexphealthsci.2017.359
Mortazavi F, Agah J. Childbirth fear and associated factors in a sample of pregnant Iranian women. Oman Medical Journal. 2018;33(6):497–505. Available from: https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2018.91
Phunyammalee M, Buayaem T, Boriboonhirunsarn D. Fear of childbirth and associated factors among low-risk pregnant women. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2019;39(6):763–767. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/01443615.2019.1584885
Güleç D, Öztürk R, Sevil Ü, Kazandı M. The relationship between fear of birth and perceived social support of pregnant women. Türkiye Klinikleri Jinekoloji Obstetrik. 2014;24(1):36-41. Available from: https://www.jcog.com.tr/article/en-the-relationship-between-fear-of-birth-and-perceived-social-support-of-pregnant-women-68378.html
Bilgiç G, Çıtak Bilgin N. Relationship between fear of childbirth and psychological and spiritual well-being in pregnant women. Journal of Religion and Health. 2020;60(1):295–310. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-020-01087-4
Bülbül T, Özen B, Çopur A, Kayacik F. Investigation the fear of labor and decision making about delivery type in pregnant. Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi. 2016;25(3):126–130. Available from: https://doi.org/10.34108/eujhs.552894
Akbaş E, Vırıt O, Aysun Kalenderoğlu A, Savaş AH, Sertbaş G. Association between sociodemographic variables with the levels of depression and anxiety in pregnancy. Archives of Neuropsychiatry. 2008;45:85-91.
Wu Y, Zhang C, Liu H, Duan C, Li C, Fan J, et al. Perinatal depressive and anxiety symptoms of pregnant women during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in China. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2020;223(2):240.e1-240.e9. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2020.05.009
Yücel Ç, Koç G. COVID-19 infection management in perinatal period: recommendations to healthcare professionals. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Fakültesi Dergisi. 2020;7:25–33. Available from: https://doi.org/10.31125/hunhemsire.775670
Aksoy AN. Fear of childbirth: review of the literature. ODU Journal of Medicine.2015;2:161-165. Available from: https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/150861
Spiniello L, Di Mascio D, Bianco C, Esposito O, Giangiordano I, Muzii L, Giancotti A, Brunelli R, Saccone G. All we know about COVID-19 in pregnancy: from perinatal to ethical and psychological perspective. Perinatal Journal. 2020;28(2):120–126. Available from: https://doi.org/10.2399/prn.20.0282008

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.