Depression, anxiety and stress among pregnant women of Pokhara during COVID-19
PDF

Keywords

Anxiety
COVID-19
Depression
Pregnant Women
Stress

How to Cite

Pandit Pahari, S., Khadka, S., K.C., D., Parajuli, A., & Kaflle, A. (2024). Depression, anxiety and stress among pregnant women of Pokhara during COVID-19. Journal of Kathmandu Medical College, 12(4), 210–6. Retrieved from https://jkmc.com.np/ojs3/index.php/journal/article/view/1320

Abstract

Background: Public health concerns pertaining to depression, anxiety, and stress in expectant mothers are critical. Pregnancy is a sensitive period of a woman’s life. Various psychological factors can adversely affect her foetus and herself.
Objectives: To assess the status of depression, anxiety, and stress among pregnant women of Pokhara during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in antenatal clinic of Pokhara Academy of Health Science, Kaski district among 400 pregnant women who were recruited by using convenient sampling technique. Data was collected through face-to-face interview technique with structured interview schedule from May to September 2021 after obtaining ethical clearance from Nepal Health Research Council (Ref. 180/2021P), Institutional Review Committee of Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences (Ref. 48.2022/078). Depression, anxiety and stress scale-21 was used to assess the depression, anxiety and stress among pregnant women. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistical analysis Chisquare, correlation, independent t-test and ANOVA were performed to analyse the data by using statistical package for social science.
Results: Slightly more than a fifth (21.3%) had depression, around one third (32.5%) had anxiety and 12.7% participants had stress. Age of respondents, the age of the spouse, the age difference, stress, anxiety, and depression scores all significantly correlate with each other (p <0.05). There was a significant difference in depression score among rural and urban and among primi and multigravida participants (p <0.05). With ANOVA, depression, anxiety, and stress had significant differences with occupation, husband’s education and occupation, and marital satisfaction (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Almost a quarter of participants had depression, a nearly one third had anxiety, and more than one tenth had stress. Various factors are associated with depression and anxiety among pregnant women. Psychosocial counselling should be conducted by focusing on rural pregnant women.

PDF

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. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(8):727–33. [PubMed | Full Text | DOI]

Ceulemans M, Hompes T, Foulon V. Mental health status of pregnant and breastfeeding women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A call for action. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2020;151(1):146–7. [ PubMed | Full text | DOI]

Wang L, Yang N, Zhou H, Mao X, Zhou Y. Pregnant Women’s Anxiety and Depression Symptoms and Influence Factors in the COVID-19 Pandemic in Changzhou, China. Front Psychol. 2022;13(May):1–8. [ PubMed | Full Text | DOI]

Lebel C, MacKinnon A, Bagshawe M, TomfohrMadsen L, Giesbrecht G. Elevated depression and anxiety symptoms among pregnant individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Affect Disord. 2020;277(July):5–13. [FullText | DOI]

Effati-daryani F, Zarei S, Mohammadi A, Hemmati E, Yngyknd SG. BMC Psychology. 2020;1–10. [PubMed | Fulltext | DOI]

Number C. Das s 21. Psychology. :20– Lovibond, S. H., & Lovibond, P. F. (1995). Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (2nd ed.). Sydney: Psychology Foundation of Australia. [Internet]

Tonsing KN. Psychometric properties and validation of Nepali version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Asian J Psychiatr. 2014;8(1):63–6. [Fulltext | DOI]

Shrestha S, Gurung B, Gaire B, Gurung TP, Shahi N. COVID-19 Pandemic and its Effect on Mental Health among General Population of Gandaki Province. J Coll Med Sci. 2022;18(2):109–15. [Fulltext | DOI]

Shrestha P, Mahato V, Subedi A, Shrestha S. Anxiety and depression in pregnant women amid COVID-19 pandemic. Asian J Med Sci. 2021;12(9):26–30. [Fulltext | DOI]

Cao Y, Liu J, Zhang Y, Li Y, Chen Z, Lu J. Pregnant women’s psychological state and influence factors: Anxiety, and depression during COVID-19 outbreak. J Perinat Med. 2021;49(6):664–73. [PubMed | Fulltext | DOI]

Kahyaoglu Sut H, Kucukkaya B. Anxiety, depression, and related factors in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey: A web-based cross-sectional study. Perspect Psychiatr Care. 2021;57(2):860–8. [PubMed | Fulltext | DOI]

Khatri S, Murthy A, Hashim U, Kuruthukulangara S, Kumari A, Lele P. Psychological status of pregnant women during COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study from Mumbai. J Mar Med Soc. 2020;0(0):0. [ GoogleScholar | Fulltext | DOI]

Silwal A, Bhetwal J, Ojha B. Anxiety related to COVID-19 among Pregnant Women Visiting a Tertiary Hospital : A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study. 2021;4(2):1–5. [GoogleScholar | Fulltext]

Premji SS, Lalani S, Shaikh K, Mian A, Forcheh N, Dosani A, et al. Comorbid anxiety and depression among pregnant pakistani women: Higher rates, different vulnerability characteristics, and the role of perceived stress. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(19):1–12. [PubMed | Fulltext | DOI]

Maharlouei N, Keshavarz P, Salemi N, Lankarani KB. Depression and anxiety among pregnant mothers in the initial stage of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the southwest of Iran. Reprod Health. 2021;18(1):1–8. [GoogleScholar | Fulltext | DOI]

Bakhshi H, Asadpour M, Khodadadizadeh A. Correlation between marital satisfaction and depression among couples in Rafsanjan TT. Jid. [GoogleScholar]