Corona disease anxiety and health related behaviors: What happened to primgravida women post COVID-19?

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked psychological and behavioural changes among pregnant women across the globe and thereby might have a devastating impact on the fetal and neonatal outcomes. The dearth of information related to this significant topic can contribute to surge feelings of uneasiness and perinatal anxiety of primigravida women. Therefore, assessing and investigating the relationship between corona disease anxiety and health related behaviors among primigravida women post COVID-19, would provide an auxiliary template to the Ministry of health in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to integrate this into their sustainable health agenda. METHODS: A descriptive correlational research design was used in this study in which a convenient sample of 200 primigravida women completed a Corona disease anxiety scale (CDAS) and pregnant women's health- related behavior changes post COVID-19. RESULTS: More than four fifth of the study subjects reported mild anxiety level (82%) and nearly three fifth of the studied primigravidas’ reported fair level of health-related behaviors (59%). Also, a statistical significant correlation was found between the studied primigravidas’ anxiety level and their health-related behavior including; healthy diet regimen, follow up visits, and protective personal measures (r = 0.273, P<0.001, r = 0.188, P<0.008, r = 0.242, P<0.001, r = 0.189, P<0.007, r = 0.407, P<0.001 and r = 0.309, P<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Corona disease anxiety was proved to be the independent predictor of health- related behavior. Mental health screening of primigravida women at the outset of any public health emergency should be prompted.