The Socio-Psychological Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Pregnancy

The World Health Organization declared a COVID-19 pandemic state in March 2020. Rapid changes in the management of the infection represented factors that marked the lives of all patients beyond the symptoms of the infection, including their mental health. This study aimed to assess the consequences of COVID-19 on the mental health of pregnant women with this infection, with different degrees of severity of the disease, focusing on the symptoms of depression and anxiety. This retrospective cohort study included 51 pregnant women. We used two scales for primary symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic: depression and anxiety specters. We identified that regarding depression symptoms, multiparas had a two-folded risk compared to primiparas, with the perception of the event as being life-threatening (p = 0.035), the perceived effects on the pregnancy to have a large impact on the pregnancy (p = 0.002), the feeling of loneliness (p = 0.012). Significant protection factors were familiar, as well as inner circle support, coupled with a stable income. Regarding the anxiety symptoms, we observed a correlation between a greater level of anxiety with financial instability status and the perception of the infection as being hazardous. The protection mechanisms were stable entourage and strong relations with the partner. Pregnant women represent independently a vulnerable group during the COVID-19 pandemic with exacerbation of depressive and anxious symptomatology. There are protective factors in the face of such uncertainty, including finding comfort within a family base support and strong entourage for patients with a stable socio-economic.