State-Trait Anxiety Condition and Its Affecting Factors in Pregnant Women Linked to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study intends to address the COVID-19 pandemic process with specific regard to pregnant women, aiming to determine their state-trait anxiety levels. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study has a quantitative design. Ethical permissions were obtained, data were collected digitally, and power analysis was performed for sample size. The sample size was calculated as 656 pregnant women. In the collection of the data, the Personal Information Form, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) were used. RESULTS: In our study, the majority of pregnant women (86.3%) were concerned about the pandemic process, with more than half thinking that their pregnancy (62.9%) and delivery processes would be affected (66.2%). In the meantime, 60.2% of the pregnant women postponed their health checks and they indicated being most concerned about their babies (57.1%). In 51.2% of the pregnant women, the state anxiety levels were low, and 89.8% of the trait anxiety levels were moderate. CONCLUSIONS: In crisis periods like the pandemic, pregnant women are among the priority groups. Screening, prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of affective disorders in the prenatal period are important for maternal and fetal health.