Health anxiety and related factors among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study from Iran
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many countries around the world and Iran was no exception. The aim of this study was to evaluate health anxiety of Iranian pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 300 pregnant women in different trimesters (n=100 in each trimester) were recruited. A demographic questionnaire and the Health Anxiety Questionnaire were used to collect data. Scores of <27, 27-34 and more than 35 were defined as low, moderate and high health anxiety, respectively. Due to nationwide restrictions, data were collected through social media groups. Chi-square tests, ANOVA and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data.
Results: Mean (SD) total anxiety scores were 22.3±9.5, 24.6±9.3 and 25.4±10.6 in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. 9%, 13% and 21% of women had severe anxiety in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. Women in the third trimester had significantly higher health anxiety scores than those in the first trimester (p=0.045).
Conclusion: At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy were more worried about consequences of disease, but total health anxiety scores were significantly higher among women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Health care providers should pay more attention to the mental health of pregnant women in times of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Health anxiety and related factors among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study from Iran
Posted 19 Jan, 2021
On 15 Feb, 2021
On 10 Jan, 2021
On 05 Jan, 2021
On 05 Jan, 2021
On 05 Jan, 2021
On 24 Nov, 2020
On 24 Nov, 2020
On 24 Nov, 2020
On 19 Nov, 2020
On 05 Nov, 2020
On 05 Nov, 2020
Received 05 Nov, 2020
Received 05 Nov, 2020
Received 05 Nov, 2020
On 01 Nov, 2020
Invitations sent on 23 Oct, 2020
On 13 Oct, 2020
On 12 Oct, 2020
On 12 Oct, 2020
Received 05 Oct, 2020
On 05 Oct, 2020
On 28 Sep, 2020
Received 25 Aug, 2020
On 03 Aug, 2020
Invitations sent on 20 May, 2020
On 18 May, 2020
On 17 May, 2020
On 17 May, 2020
On 29 Apr, 2020
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many countries around the world and Iran was no exception. The aim of this study was to evaluate health anxiety of Iranian pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 300 pregnant women in different trimesters (n=100 in each trimester) were recruited. A demographic questionnaire and the Health Anxiety Questionnaire were used to collect data. Scores of <27, 27-34 and more than 35 were defined as low, moderate and high health anxiety, respectively. Due to nationwide restrictions, data were collected through social media groups. Chi-square tests, ANOVA and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data.
Results: Mean (SD) total anxiety scores were 22.3±9.5, 24.6±9.3 and 25.4±10.6 in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. 9%, 13% and 21% of women had severe anxiety in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. Women in the third trimester had significantly higher health anxiety scores than those in the first trimester (p=0.045).
Conclusion: At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy were more worried about consequences of disease, but total health anxiety scores were significantly higher among women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Health care providers should pay more attention to the mental health of pregnant women in times of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Figure 1