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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pregnant Women with Perinatal Anxiety Symptoms in Pakistan: A Qualitative Study

Author

Listed:
  • Nida Rauf

    (Human Development Research Foundation, House No 06, Street No 55, F-7/4, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Shaffaq Zulfiqar

    (Human Development Research Foundation, House No 06, Street No 55, F-7/4, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Sidra Mumtaz

    (Human Development Research Foundation, House No 06, Street No 55, F-7/4, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Hadia Maryam

    (Human Development Research Foundation, House No 06, Street No 55, F-7/4, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Rabail Shoukat

    (Human Development Research Foundation, House No 06, Street No 55, F-7/4, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

  • Abid Malik

    (Human Development Research Foundation, House No 06, Street No 55, F-7/4, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
    Department of Research, Rawalpindi Medical University, Tipu Rd, Chamanzar Colony, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan)

  • Armaan A. Rowther

    (Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA)

  • Atif Rahman

    (Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L12 2AP, UK)

  • Pamela J. Surkan

    (Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 615 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
    These authors contributed equally to the research.)

  • Najia Atif

    (Human Development Research Foundation, House No 06, Street No 55, F-7/4, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
    These authors contributed equally to the research.)

Abstract

The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on people with existing mental health conditions is likely to be high. We explored the consequences of the pandemic on women of lower socioeconomic status with prenatal anxiety symptoms living in urban Rawalpindi, Pakistan. This qualitative study was embedded within an ongoing randomized controlled trial of psychosocial intervention for prenatal anxiety at a public hospital in Rawalpindi. The participants were women with symptoms of anxiety who had received or were receiving the intervention. In total, 27 interviews were conducted; 13 women were in their third trimester of pregnancy, and 14 were in their postnatal period. The data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using framework analysis. Key findings were that during the pandemic, women experienced increased perinatal anxiety that was linked to greater financial problems, uncertainties over availability of appropriate obstetric healthcare, and a lack of trust in health professionals. Women experienced increased levels of fear for their own and their baby’s health and safety, especially due to fear of infection. COVID-19 appears to have contributed to symptoms of anxiety in women already predisposed to anxiety in the prenatal period. Efforts to address women’s heightened anxiety due to the pandemic are likely to have public health benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Nida Rauf & Shaffaq Zulfiqar & Sidra Mumtaz & Hadia Maryam & Rabail Shoukat & Abid Malik & Armaan A. Rowther & Atif Rahman & Pamela J. Surkan & Najia Atif, 2021. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pregnant Women with Perinatal Anxiety Symptoms in Pakistan: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-14, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8237-:d:607857
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chongyu Yue & Cuiping Liu & Jing Wang & Meng Zhang & Hongjing Wu & Chunrong Li & Xiuling Yang, 2021. "Association between social support and anxiety among pregnant women in the third trimester during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in Qingdao, China: The mediating effect of risk perce," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(2), pages 120-127, March.
    2. Cristina Mazza & Eleonora Ricci & Silvia Biondi & Marco Colasanti & Stefano Ferracuti & Christian Napoli & Paolo Roma, 2020. "A Nationwide Survey of Psychological Distress among Italian People during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-14, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Paulina Malarkiewicz & Stanisław Maksymowicz & Maria Libura, 2022. "Mother’s Loneliness: Involuntary Separation of Pregnant Women in Maternity Care Settings and Its Effects on the Experience of Mothers during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-13, April.
    2. Needal Ghadi & Jordan Tustin & Ian Young & Nigar Sekercioglu & Susan Abdula & Fatih Sekercioglu, 2024. "Examining the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Iraqi Refugees in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-13, March.

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