Study: The Corona pandemic affected the psychological and mental health of pregnant women

INA-  sources 
A Canadian study showed the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental and psychological health  of pregnant and lactating women in Canada as a result of the Corona pandemic.
The study led by Anick Bérard, and published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, confirmed that the impact was greater than in other historical crises in Canada and the world, such as the Zika virus epidemic and the ice storm in Quebec in 1998.

The study focuses on the first three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, and according to the data collected, 23 percent of pregnant or postpartum women in Canada have major depressive symptoms, and about 40 percent have moderate to severe symptoms, primarily related to anxiety and stress.

Professor Berard said: “While much attention is paid to the physical health of pregnant women, these findings demonstrate that their mental health must also be taken care of, and appropriate psychological support programs during and after childbirth should be put in place.”

The pregnancy study also showed that women who gave birth during the epidemic had more severe depressive symptoms than expectant mothers, as the prevalence of symptoms increased as pregnant women approached delivery.

“Depression, anxiety and stress in pregnant women are associated with risks of preterm birth and cognitive problems during childhood,” Berard said. “To measure the impact of these symptoms and develop strategies to reduce them, we now believe it is necessary to ensure longitudinal follow-up for children born during this period.”
Of the three waves studied, the second wave between December 2020 and April 2021 was found to have the greatest impact on the mental health of pregnant women.

More than 3,000 Canadian women, including 2,574 pregnant women and 626 women who gave birth, were recruited through social media and select maternity clinics between June 2020 and August 2021.

The study used the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 to analyze sociodemographic factors and measures of mental health and to compare outcomes by stage of pregnancy, trimester of pregnancy, and pandemic wave.

Pregnant participants completed an online questionnaire twice. At recruitment during pregnancy and two months after delivery, women who had already given birth completed only one questionnaire.
Pregnancy participants and their babies are monitored for up to 18 months, and some babies are in-person at 24 months old, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.