Affecting Factors Related To Pregnancy on Mental Health Problems during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of pregnancy-related factors on mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and Methods: This review was conducted through a systematic search of electronic resources in English, including Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, SID, Magiran, CIVILICA, and Google Scholar search engine with no time limit from inception up to August 2021, using the following keywords on their own or in combination: Factors, Pregnancy, Mental Health, and COVID-19.Results: Finally, 12 related articles were selected (n=14,776). The results indicated a significant association between the gestational age and anxiety. Women who were in their first and third trimesters after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic were at an increased risk of depression and anxiety. The first pregnancy (primigravida) was a parameter significantly correlated (AOR=3.05; 95% CI =1.53–6.08, p=0.001) with general anxiety disorder -7 score. A significant correlation existed between access to antenatal care data through the official social media accounts of hospitals and lower levels of perceived stress, depression, and anxiety. Financial problems and inability to receive informal childcare support independently had a correlation with the Elevated levels of depression symptoms (EPDS score ≥ 13).Conclusion: Anxiety and depression were prevalent in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Education level, primigravida pregnancy, household income, BMI, sleep quality, social and family support, smoking, physical health, ethnicity, and prenatal care of pregnancy were associated with higher anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Affecting Factors Related To Pregnancy on Mental Health Problems during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review Keywords:

COVID-19 , mental health , Systematic review , Pregnancy