Soichiro Obata1, Etsuko Miyagi2, Yasuo Haruyama3, Takeshi Umazume4, Gen Kobashi3, Asuka Yoshimi5, Akitoyo Hishimoto5, Kentaro Kurasawa2, Yukio Suzuki2, Tomoaki Ikeda6, Tadashi Kimura7, Hideto Yamada8. 1. Perinatal Center for Maternity and Neonates, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan. 3. Department of Public Health, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan. 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. 5. Department of Psychiatry, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan. 6. Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan. 7. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. 8. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Teine Keijinkai Hospital, Sapporo, Japan.
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate psychological stress among pregnant and puerperal women in Japan during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited pregnant women and puerperal women who delivered between January and September 2020 in Japan, using an online questionnaire. Participants were divided into low, middle, and high groups according to the degree of the epidemic in their region of residence. Related factors were analyzed using the chi-squared test. The relationship between COVID-19 epidemic regions and depression risks and anxiety using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Kessler 6 scale (K6) was evaluated using a univariate and multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: Overall, 7775 cases, including 4798 pregnant and 2977 puerperal women, were analyzed. The prevalence of high EPDS and K6 scores was significantly increased in pregnant women in the high than those in the low epidemic regions (EPDS: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.453, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.205-1.753; K6: aOR 1.601, 95% CI 1.338-1.918). There was no difference in EPDS score, but the prevalence of high K6 scores was significantly increased in puerperal women in the high than those in the low epidemic regions (aOR 1.342, 95% CI 1.066-1.690). Further, restriction on going to their hometown for delivery increased the prevalence of high EPDS scores among pregnant (aOR 1.663, 95% CI 1.296-2.133) and puerperal women (aOR 1.604, 95% CI 1.006-2.557). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased support due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected the psychological status of pregnant and puerperal women; hence, investing medical resources in their healthcare essential.
AIM: To evaluate psychological stress among pregnant and puerperal women in Japan during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited pregnant women and puerperal women who delivered between January and September 2020 in Japan, using an online questionnaire. Participants were divided into low, middle, and high groups according to the degree of the epidemic in their region of residence. Related factors were analyzed using the chi-squared test. The relationship between COVID-19 epidemic regions and depression risks and anxiety using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Kessler 6 scale (K6) was evaluated using a univariate and multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: Overall, 7775 cases, including 4798 pregnant and 2977 puerperal women, were analyzed. The prevalence of high EPDS and K6 scores was significantly increased in pregnant women in the high than those in the low epidemic regions (EPDS: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.453, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.205-1.753; K6: aOR 1.601, 95% CI 1.338-1.918). There was no difference in EPDS score, but the prevalence of high K6 scores was significantly increased in puerperal women in the high than those in the low epidemic regions (aOR 1.342, 95% CI 1.066-1.690). Further, restriction on going to their hometown for delivery increased the prevalence of high EPDS scores among pregnant (aOR 1.663, 95% CI 1.296-2.133) and puerperal women (aOR 1.604, 95% CI 1.006-2.557). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased support due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected the psychological status of pregnant and puerperal women; hence, investing medical resources in their healthcare essential.