ArticleEuropean journal of midwifery2022
Exploring social complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal anxiety: A mixed-methods observational cohort study.
Article in European journal of midwifery, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
introductionThe aim of this mixed-methods, small-scale observational cohort study was to examine if anxiety in pregnant women increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and to examine the subsequent impact on birth outcomes and psychological well-being. This research was conducted across two hospital sites in North London, with participation from 194 pregnant women.
methodsThe GAD-7 questionnaire assessed for mild, moderate and high anxiety at one time point during the antenatal period and was repeated 6 weeks postnatally. Women with moderate to high scores on the GAD-7 were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. The primary outcome measure was assessment of antenatal and postnatal anxiety. Secondary outcome measures assessed if women with moderate/high GAD-7 scores were more likely to develop a mental health condition during pregnancy, or up to 6 weeks postnatally, and if risk of preterm birth (<37 weeks gestation) and instrumental birth or cesarean section increased.
resultsPearson's correlation indicated a positive and significant correlation between the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased self-reported antenatal GAD-7 anxiety scores (r=0.47, n=194, p<0.001). GAD-7 scores were higher during pregnancy compared to the postnatal period [t(193)=4.63; p=0.001; 95% CI: 0.87-2.16]. Logistic regression did not show an increased likelihood of preterm birth [χ²(1, n=184)=0.999; p=0.971] or instrumental/cesarean section birth in women who scored moderately to highly on the antenatal GAD-7 [χ²(1, n=184)=2.73; p=0.165]. Qualitative analysis was carried out within a social constructionist framework and identified the following themes: anxiety, maternity care, social impact, and coping.
conclusionsPregnant women self-reported an increase in antenatal anxiety during July 2020 to April 2021 of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moderate to high anxiety scores were not found to increase the likelihood of preterm birth and birth intervention or developing a mental health condition up to 6 weeks postnatally.
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