Efficacy of Individual Supportive Counseling on Stress Caused by COVID-۱۹ in Pregnant Women

Background & aim: Pregnant women experience some levels of stress during pregnancy. COVID-۱۹ was able also increase their stress. This study performed to evaluate the efficacy of supportive counseling on stress caused by COVID-۱۹ in pregnant women. Methods: This clinical trial performed on ۹۷ pregnant women ۴۹ in the intervention and ۴۸ in the control group) referred to comprehensive healthcare centers of Gorgan, Iran in ۲۰۲۱. Data collection tools included an electronic questionnaire containing demographic, fertility-related data, and questions related to the COVID-۱۹ pandemic as well as the coronavirus stress scale. The intervention group received three supportive counseling sessions by ۶۰-۹۰ minutes weekly. The control group received only routine pregnancy care. Data were analyzed by independent t-test, Chi-square test, and Fisher's exact tests using SPSS (version ۲۴). Results: The results showed that before the intervention, there was no significant difference in the mean score of stress in the intervention group (۴۸.۲۸ ± ۵.۹۷۶) and the control group (۴۷.۰۸ ± ۵.۱۵۸) (P=۰.۲۵۸). However, four weeks after the intervention, the mean score of stress in the intervention group (۴۱.۷۷±۵.۲۹۶) had a significant decrease compared to the control group (۴۶.۲۹±۵.۲۲۰) (P˂۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: The level of stress during the COVID-۱۹ pandemic is high and providing supportive counseling can reduce pregnancy-specific stress and increase healthy behaviors. Supportive counseling can be used as an effective way to reduce the adverse consequences of stress during pregnancy.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , Supportive counseling , stress , pregnancy