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Published on: June 13, 2021
Antepartum Distress during COVID-19 Pandemic: an Observational Study
Agata Di Buò1, Patrizia Moretti, Giulia Menculini
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Perugia, Piazzale Lucio Severi, 1, 06132, S. Andrea delle Fratte, Perugia, Italy.
Background:
The present study investigates the impact of the Coronavirus diseases 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic on the subjective experience of pregnant women, as well as the impact of the pandemic on this population in terms of psychopathological correlates.
Subjects And Methods:
Pregnant women referring to the Section of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the General Hospital of Perugia, Italy, were recruited from 1st May, 2021 to 15th June, 2021. Socio-demographic and clinical data was collected, as well as information regarding the Covid-19 pandemic impact on the subjective experience of pregnancy. Psychopathology was evaluated by means of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y (STAI-Y), the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) and the Prenatal Distress Measure (Pre-DM). Descriptive analyses were performed. Significant associations between distress symptoms and the collected sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed by using the Pearson correlation (p<0.05).
Results:
25 women were included in the study. Among these, 18 (72%) reported that the Covid-19 pandemic negatively impacted their experience of pregnancy. Were detected an average Pre-DM total score of 7.28±4.33 and an average state anxiety scale value of 35.56±9.21 and an average trait anxiety scale value of 34.04±7.44 at the STAI-Y. A global severity index > 1 at SCL-90 was detected in 8.3% of the sample.
Conclusions:
The identification of antepartum distress and the early treatment of perinatal psychopathology represent a priority during the Covid-19 pandemic era.
