Increased Risk for Maternal Anxiety during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Brazil among Pregnant Women without Comorbidities

Abstract

Objective To study maternal anxiety in pregnant women without comorbidities in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak in Brazil and to study maternal knowledge and concerns about the pandemic.

Methods This is a secondary analysis from a national multicenter cross-sectional study performed in 10 cities, from June to August, 2020, in Brazil. Interviewed postpartum women, without medical or obstetrical comorbidities, were included in the present subanalysis. A structured questionnaire and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were applied.

Results Out of the 1,662 women, 763 (45.9%) met the criteria for the current analysis and 16.1% presented with moderate and 11.5% with severe maternal anxiety. Moderate or severe maternal anxiety was associated with high school education (odds ratio [OR]:1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.04–2.40). The protective factor was cohabiting with a partner (OR: 0.46; 95%CI: 0.29–0.73). There was a positive correlation between the total BAI score and receiving information about care in the pandemic (r_partial 0.15; p < 0.001); concern about vertical transmission of COVID-19 (r_partial 0.10; p = 0.01); receiving information about breastfeeding (r_partial 0.08; p = 0.03); concerns about prenatal care (r_partial 0.10; p = 0.01), and concerns about the baby contracting COVID-19 (r_partial 0.11; p = 0.004). The correlation was negative in the following aspects: self-confidence in protecting from COVID-19 (r_partial 0.08; p = 0.04), having learned (r_partial 0.09; p = 0.01) and self-confidence in breastfeeding (r_partial 0.22; p < 0.001) in the context of the pandemic.

Conclusion The anxiety of pregnant women without medical or obstetrical comorbidities was associated to high school educational level and not living with a partner during the COVID-19 pandemic. Self-confidence in protecting against COVID-19 and knowledge about breastfeeding care during the pandemic reduced maternal anxiety.

Resumo

Objetivo Estudar a ansiedade materna em gestantes sem comorbidades no contexto do surto de COVID-19 no Brasil e estudar o conhecimento e as preocupações maternas sobre a pandemia.

Métodos Trata-se de análise secundária de um estudo transversal multicêntrico nacional realizado em 10 cidades, de junho a agosto de 2020, no Brasil. Mulheres no pós-parto entrevistadas, sem comorbidades médicas ou obstétricas, foram incluídas nesta subanálise. Foram aplicados um questionário estruturado e o Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck (BAI, na sigla em inglês).

Resultados Das 1.662 mulheres, 763 (45,9%) atenderam aos critérios da análise atual e 16,1% apresentaram ansiedade materna moderada e 11,5% ansiedade materna grave. A ansiedade materna moderada ou grave foi associada à escolaridade no ensino médio (odds ratio [OR]: 1,58; intervalo de confiança [IC] 95%: 1,04–2,40). O fator protetor foi coabitar com companheiro (OR: 0,46; IC95%: 0,29–0,73). Houve correlação positiva entre a pontuação total do BAI e o recebimento de informações sobre cuidados na pandemia (r_parcial 0,15; p < 0,001); preocupação com a transmissão vertical de COVID-19 (r_parcial 0,10; p = 0,01); receber informações sobre amamentação (r_parcial 0,08; p = 0,03); preocupações sobre cuidados pré-natais (r_parcial 0,10; p = 0,01) e preocupações sobre o bebê contrair COVID-19 (r_parcial 0,11; p = 0,004). A correlação foi negativa com os seguintes aspectos: ter autoconfiança para se proteger (r_parcial 0,08; p = 0,04), aprender (r_parcial 0,09; p = 0,01) e ter autoconfiança para amamentar (r_parcial 0,22; p < 0,001) no contexto da pandemia.

Conclusão A ansiedade de gestantes sem comorbidades médicas ou obstétricas esteve associada à escolaridade no ensino médio e não morar com companheiro durante a pandemia de COVID-19. A autoconfiança na proteção contra COVID-19 e o conhecimento sobre os cuidados com a amamentação durante a pandemia reduziram a ansiedade materna.

Keywords

pregnancy - maternal anxiety - childbirth - postpartum - questionnaires - breastfeeding - coronavirus disease 2019 - pandemic

Palavras-chave

gravidez - ansiedade materna - parto - pós-parto - questionários - amamentação - infecção por coronavírus 2019 - pandemia

Contributions

All authors contributed equally to the present paper; namely, to the conception and design, data collection or analysis, and interpretation of data, writing of the article, and review of the intellectual content. Therefore, all authors approved the final version to be published.

Publication History

Received: 02 July 2021

Accepted: 01 October 2021

Article published online:
21 December 2021

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