The effect of pregnant women’s health-seeking behavior and preference for mode of birth on pregnancy distress during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

In this study, the researchers investigated to the impact of pregnant women’s health-seeking behavior and mode of birth preferences on pregnancy distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study was conducted with 351 pregnant women. The risk rate of pregnancy distress using the Tilburg Pregnancy Distress Scale (TPDS) cut-off point was 16.5%. 13.3% of pregnant women changed their mode of birth preferences due to the pandemic. The risk of pregnancy distress in women who changed their mode of birth preferences due to the pandemic increased 5.4 times more than in those who preferred vaginal birth before and during the pandemic (OR: 5.4, p<0.001). We determined that the increase in the Health Seeking Behavior Scale total scores had a reducing effect on pregnancy distress due to a lack of partner involvement for TPDS.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to especially thank pregnant women who volunteered to participate in this study.

Authors’ contributions

SA, RA, DKB: Conceptualization; SA, RA, DKB: Data collection and analysis; SA, RA: Supervision; SA, RA, DKB: Manuscript writing; SA, RA, DKB. All authors have contributed to the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Ethics approval

For this study, it was received from the Artvin Çoruh University Research Ethics Committee Approval (Approval No. 30.04.2020/5207) and the Turkish Ministry of Health COVID-19 Scientific Research Commission (Approval No: 2020/20T21).

Additional information

Funding

The authors received no financial support for this study.