Awareness of Coronavirus Disease and Perceived Stress in Pregnant Women

Background and Objective: With the outbreak of the new coronavirus, some sections of society are more vulnerable, including pregnant women. Today, with the pandemic of COVID-۱۹, anxiety, and worries about pregnancy and fetal health have increased and will be associated with adverse consequences for the health of mothers and infants. There is also insufficient information on the effects of coronary heart disease and COVID-۱۹ on the fetus and pregnancy. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the level of awareness of pregnant women about coronavirus disease (COVID-۱۹) and its correlation with observed stress in pregnant women. Methods:  This cross-sectional analytical research was conducted on ۳۸۴ pregnant women who were referred To Al-Zahra Medical Center at Rasht, Iran in ۲۰۲۰ and were selected through simple random sampling. Data collection tools were a demographic questionnaire, standard perceived stress questionnaire, and a researcher-made questionnaire on COVID-۱۹ disease. Using statistical tests, the collected information was analyzed using SPSS ۲۳ at an importance level of less than ۰.۰۵. Results: The average scores of pregnant women's knowledge about the signs, symptoms, and ways of transmitting coronavirus are lower than the scores of mothers' awareness about the cause of the disease and how to prevent it. However, in general, the average score of pregnant women' knowledge about COVID-۱۹ is high. Also, the mean scores of concern about COVID-۱۹ and perceived stress of pregnant women about this disease in this reading are high. The present study's findings showed that the amount of knowledge of pregnant women about COVID-۱۹ has a statistically significant relationship with anxiety and perceived stress about this disease and has a positive correlation. Conclusion: This study's results showed that the more pregnant women are aware of COVID-۱۹, the more anxious and stressed they are. As a result, to provide psychological support to pregnant women during pregnancy, medical staff training, the help of social media, and psychiatric experts can minimize harm to them and their fetuses.