Concerns of High-Risk Pregnancies During Pandemic: COVID-19 and Fear of Birth

Abstract

AIM: This study was conducted to determine the fear of birth and coronavirus disease 2019 in pregnant women who applied to the high-risk pregnancy outpatient clinic during the pandemic and investigate whether there is a relationship between these fears. METHOD: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study using questionnaires. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale and Fear of Birth Scale for Pregnant Women were validated in Turkish in outpatient women with high-risk pregnancies. The study was carried out with 238 pregnant women between February 15 -April 15, 2021. RESULTS: The mean age of the pregnant women participating in the study was 30.22 & PLUSMN; 6.01, the mean week of gestation was 30.87 & PLUSMN; 5.56, the total mean of Fear of COVID-19 Scale score was found to be 18.23 & PLUSMN; 6.41, and Fear of Birth Scale for Pregnant Women total mean score was 62.30 & PLUSMN; 25.66. An increased prevalence of anxiety has been found in high-risk pregnant women during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. It was observed that there was a significant, positive, and low-level relationship between Fear of COVID-19 Scale-19 and Fear of Birth Scale for Pregnant Women of high-risk pregnant women (r = .268; p = .000). CONCLUSION: Prenatal anxiety was prevalent among high-risk pregnant women who required routine anxiety screening and psychosocial support during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic.