Challenges of pregnancy during the covid19 pandemic and Lockdown–a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 outbreak was declared as a global pandemic. India decided to lock down the country bringing hardships to her people. Objective: To study the challenges met by a pregnant woman during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in India. Material and Methods: Consenting pregnant women were given a questionnaire to answer. Results: 32.1% were primigravida and 67.9 % were multigravida. 66.42 % said that they feared they either themselves or their baby could contract COVID-19 disease.46.5% of the participants did not take an antenatal visit to the doctor. The reasons given were, they followed the government advisory not to visit hospitals unnecessarily (26%), non-availability of transport (39.7%), fear of coming to the hospital (22.3%). 237.26% took teleconsultation and 79.2% were satisfied with the response.18.45% took medications from the pharmacy on their own and 52.52% did not receive their due tetanus toxoid injection.44.46% could not get their due obstetric ultrasonogram. Conclusion: Abrupt lockdown of the country not only prevented the spread of the virus but also brought about hardships to pregnant women 19 Pandemic affected the antenatal care of pregnant women.

Keywords

• covid -19
• antenatal care
• transport
• ultrasonogram