Knowledge of COVID-19 by pregnant women of a maternity home

Abstract

Background: viral infections in pregnant women increase the rates of mother and perinatal mortality. COVID-19 is disease with a high incidence and contagion.Objective: to characterize the level of knowledge of COVID-19 by pregnant women admitted to “Casapiedra” Maternity Home, belonging to the “Guillermo Tejas” University Polyclinic of Las Tunas, from March to May 2020.Methods: a quasi-experimental, educational study was carried out with a sample of 14 pregnant women admitted to the aforementioned institution and during the period herein declared. A questionnaire was given before and after the intervention to determine the level of knowledge and preoccupations about COVID-19 and the process of labor and puerperium. The following variables were assessed: maternal and gestational ages, education level and causes of admission.Results: before the intervention most of the pregnant women presented learning needs about the symptoms, general and specific measures with suspected and confirmed expectant mothers carrying COVID-19. All the cases expressed preoccupation about the transmission of the disease to their babies during breastfeeding. After the intervention the knowledge level increased, but 71,4 % reported worries about the risk to catch the infection outside the maternity home, related to the existence of diseases and pregnancy proper.Conclusions: the educational intervention was effective, although there was an evident permanent preoccupation of the pregnant women about the process of labor and puerperium in pandemic outbreak.

Keywords

• coronavirus infections
• covid-19
• pregnancy
• early intervention, educational