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Maternal Fear of COVID-19 and prevalence of postnatal depression symptoms: Risk and protective factors
  • +8
  • Hadar Gluska,
  • Noga Shiffman,
  • Yael Mayer,
  • Lior Elyasyan,
  • Nofar Elia,
  • Rawan Daher,
  • Maya Sharon-Weiner,
  • Hadas Miremberg,
  • Michal Kovo,
  • Tal Biron-Shental,
  • Rinat Gabbay-Benziv
Hadar Gluska
Meir Medical Center

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Noga Shiffman
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center
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Yael Mayer
The University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine
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Lior Elyasyan
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center
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Nofar Elia
Edith Wolfson Medical Center
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Rawan Daher
Meir Medical Center
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Maya Sharon-Weiner
Meir Medical Center
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Hadas Miremberg
Edith Wolfson Medical Center
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Michal Kovo
Edith Wolfson Medical Center
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Tal Biron-Shental
Meir Medical Center
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Rinat Gabbay-Benziv
Hillel Yaffe Medical Center
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Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the relations between Fear of COVID-19 and postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms. Design: A multicenter prospective observational study. Setting and Population: A cohort of women who delivered during COVID-19 pandemic between 03-05/2020. Methods: Participants were virtually approached after delivery and asked to complete an online questionnaire. Data was verified with each center’s perinatal database. The validated Fear of COVID-19 Scale was in use. PPD was evaluated using the EPDS questionnaire as a categorical (≥10) and as a continuous scale. Pre-existing maternal disability was defined as any prior physiological/psychological chronic health condition. Stress-contributing complications during pregnancy or at birth included pregnancy and labor related complications. Regression analysis and ROC statistics were utilized to evaluate associations and control for confounders. Main Outcome Measure: PPD symptoms. Results: Overall, 421 women completed the questionnaires. Of them, 99(23.5%) had a high EPDS score. Fear of COVID-19 was positively correlated with PPD symptoms (r=0.35,p=0.000),ROC-AUC 0.67, 95%CI 0.61-0.74. Following adjustment to confounders (maternal age, nulliparity, ethnicity, marital status, financial difficulties, maternal disability, accessibility to medical services, and stress-contributing complications during pregnancy (, the most important factor that correlated with depression was maternal disability (aOR3,95%CI 1.3-6.9) followed by Fear of COVID-19 (aOR1.1,95%CI 1.05-1.15). High accessibility to medical services (aOR0.59,95% CI 0.45-0.77) and stress-contributing complications during pregnancy (aOR0.2, 95% CI 0.11-0.82) were both protective for PPD symptoms. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, maternal disability and Fear of COVID-19 are positively associated with a high EPDS score. High medical accessibility was found as a protective factor for PPD.
Apr 2022Published in Journal of Psychiatric Research volume 148 on pages 214-219. 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.01.015