Evaluation of COVID-19 anxiety in pregnancy and its relationship with postpartum depression

Due to the partial suppression of the immune system during pregnancy, the pandemics like covid-19 may have serious consequences for pregnant women. Therefore, pregnant women are more worried about their infection with pandemics and its complications. The presence of anxiety during pregnancy may be an important factor in postpartum mental disorders, including depression, so this study was conducted with the aim of determining the COVID-19 Anxiety in the third trimester of pregnancy and its relationship with postpartum depression. This prospective cohort study was conducted on 206 pregnant women who met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study by cluster sampling and convenience sampling within clusters from March 2020 to August 2021. After receiving the informed consent, the demographic-fertility information, factors related to corona questionnaire, and Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS) were completed by the mothers at the beginning of the third trimester (28–34 weeks) and in a calm environment. Next, the CDAS was completed by the mothers at the end of the third trimester (34–40 weeks) so that there is at least 5 weeks between filling the questionnaires. Finally, Beck’s depression questionnaires and COVID-19 Anxiety Scale were completed by the mothers in the fourth to sixth weeks after delivery. Finally, the data was analyzed using SPSS software and by descriptive and analytical statistics. The findings showed that the mean score of COVID-19 Anxiety at 28–34 weeks of pregnancy was 11.54 ± 7.56 and 62.8% of mothers reported low anxiety, 32.5% moderate anxiety and 4.7% high anxiety level. Also, the mean score of COVID-19 Anxiety in 34–40 weeks of pregnancy was 22.05 ± 9.39, which was in low level in 29.3%, medium level in 46% and high level in 24.7%. The mean score of postpartum depression was 18.49 ± 10.88, and 38.6% of the participants showed no signs of depression, 21.4% had mild depression, 19.1% had moderate depression, and 20.9% had Severely depression. In addition, there was a direct and significant relationship between postpartum depression of mothers with the total mean score of COVID-19 Anxiety and psychological and physical components of anxiety in weeks 28–34 and 34–40 of pregnancy and postpartum( p < 0/001). The findings showed that COVID-19 Anxiety increases with increasing gestational age and is also associated with postpartum depression. Therefore, based on the results of the study, it is recommended that interventions be designed to reduce maternal anxiety and depression during pregnancy in similar cases.