loading page

Maternal Fear of COVID-19 and prevalence of postnatal depression symptoms: Risk and protective factors
  • +8
  • Hadar Gluska,
  • Noga Shiffman,
  • Yael Mayer,
  • Lior Elyasyan,
  • Nofar Elia,
  • Rawan Daher,
  • Maya Sharon-Weiner,
  • Hadas Miremberg,
  • Michal Kovo,
  • Tal Biron-Shental,
  • Rinat Gabbay-Benziv
Hadar Gluska
Meir Medical Center

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Noga Shiffman
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center
Author Profile
Yael Mayer
The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine
Author Profile
Lior Elyasyan
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center
Author Profile
Nofar Elia
Edith Wolfson Medical Center
Author Profile
Rawan Daher
Meir Medical Center
Author Profile
Maya Sharon-Weiner
Meir Medical Center
Author Profile
Hadas Miremberg
Edith Wolfson Medical Center
Author Profile
Michal Kovo
Edith Wolfson Medical Center
Author Profile
Tal Biron-Shental
Meir Medical Center
Author Profile
Rinat Gabbay-Benziv
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center
Author Profile

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the relations between Fear of COVID-19 and postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms. Design: A multicenter prospective observational study. Setting and Population: A cohort of women who delivered during COVID-19 pandemic between 03-05/2020. Methods: Participants were virtually approached after delivery and asked to complete an online questionnaire. Data was verified with each center’s perinatal database. The validated Fear of COVID-19 Scale was in use. PPD was evaluated using the EPDS questionnaire as a categorical (≥10) and as a continuous scale. Pre-existing maternal disability was defined as any prior physiological/psychological chronic health condition. Stress-contributing complications during pregnancy or at birth included pregnancy and labor related complications. Regression analysis and ROC statistics were utilized to evaluate associations and control for confounders. Main Outcome Measure: PPD symptoms. Results: Overall, 421 women completed the questionnaires. Of them, 99(23.5%) had a high EPDS score. Fear of COVID-19 was positively correlated with PPD symptoms (r=0.35,p=0.000),ROC-AUC 0.67, 95%CI 0.61-0.74. Following adjustment to confounders (maternal age, nulliparity, ethnicity, marital status, financial difficulties, maternal disability, accessibility to medical services, and stress-contributing complications during pregnancy (, the most important factor that correlated with depression was maternal disability (aOR3,95%CI 1.3-6.9) followed by Fear of COVID-19 (aOR1.1,95%CI 1.05-1.15). High accessibility to medical services (aOR0.59,95% CI 0.45-0.77) and stress-contributing complications during pregnancy (aOR0.2, 95% CI 0.11-0.82) were both protective for PPD symptoms. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, maternal disability and Fear of COVID-19 are positively associated with a high EPDS score. High medical accessibility was found as a protective factor for PPD.
Apr 2022Published in Journal of Psychiatric Research volume 148 on pages 214-219. 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.01.015