Pregnancy during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A cross‐sectional observational descriptive study

Abstract

Abstract Aim To provide data on the fears of pregnant women during the confinement period and to learn about the factors, which may have exacerbated fear in Spanish pregnant women during the pandemic. Design A cross‐sectional observational and descriptive study. Methods An anonymous survey was carried out using virtual media in a pregnant population (aged ≥18 years) during the confinement period from 1 April to 1 May 2020. Results The total sample comprised of 62 individuals, with a mean age of 33.6 ± 3.6 years and a mean gestation time of 23.6 ± 9.8 weeks. All of the women used preventive measures against SARS‐CoV‐2. The most common preventive measures were social isolation (82.3%, n = 51) and frequent handwashing (69.4%, n = 43). The most common feeling was fear (29%, n = 18). The main fears were related to transplacental infection (27%, n = 16), loneliness during childbirth, and being separated from the newborn (27%, n = 16). In addition, 59.7% (n = 37) considered changing their child‐rearing practices after the pandemic.

Keywords

• childbirth
• confinement
• coronavirus infections
• COVID‐19
• pandemic
• pregnancy