https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3495-799X
Abstract
Introduction
Since the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a major worldwide health threat, countries have implemented preventative measures to limit the spread of the disease and reduce the strain on their health services. The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is one of the countries where relatively strict lockdown measures were enforced. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the lockdown circumstances in Jordan on antenatal care services and health circumstances of pregnant women during this period.
Participants and Methods
This study involved a cross-sectional survey of Jordanian women who are currently pregnant. An electronic survey was distributed among pregnant women in Jordan. A total of 944 completed responses were returned and analyzed. The sample size was statistically determined to be representative of the population.
Results
The results revealed a significant increase in the percentage of pregnant women not receiving antenatal care from 4% to 59.53% (p<0.001) during the lockdown period, despite the fact that some of these women were suffering from significant underlying medical conditions or serious pregnancy complications that require close antenatal surveillance. The survey also demonstrated that the lockdown circumstances impacted the physical, social, and mental wellbeing of the participants.
Conclusion
Although the lockdown measures in Jordan have succeeded so far in relative containment of COVID-19, this research suggests that significant disruption to antenatal services has occurred and that the lockdown has affected the wellbeing of pregnant women in a number of aspects, which has the potential to cause antenatal health issues that are not directly related to the spread of COVID-19, but rather are a side effect of the way in which the outbreak is managed.
Data Sharing Statement
The raw data supporting the results of this study are represented in the tables included and can be made available by the corresponding author upon request.
Compliance with Ethical Standards
This research was granted ethical approval by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Jordan University Hospital in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration (reference 1012020/8629). Responses were anonymous, hence participant confidentiality was protected. Participation was voluntary and participants could withdraw from submitting their response at any point prior to final submission; therefore, a complete submitted response was considered consent to participation. No compensation was given in return for participation.
Acknowledgment
The authors would like to acknowledge all the participants in this survey for sharing their information and taking the time to respond to the questionnaire.
Author Contributions
All authors made substantial contributions to the conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; took part in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; agreed to submit to the current journal; gave final approval of the version to be published; and agree to be accountable for all the aspects of the work.
Disclosure
The authors report no financial or non-financial conflicts of interest in this work.