Factors Predicting Fear of COVID-19 and the Related Anxiety Among Pregnant Women in Mazandaran, Northern Iran

Pregnant women experience subtle mental and physical changes during pregnancy. This study aims to find the predictors of the fear of COVID-19 and the COVID-19-related anxiety among pregnant women in Mazandaran, northern Iran.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 450 pregnant women from six cities in Mazandaran province from June to February 2021. They were selected using a multi-stage random sampling method from among those visiting health centers affiliated to Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Data collection was done using the fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S) and the Corona disease anxiety scale (CDAS). Descriptive statistics and analytical tests including the generalized linear model (GLM) were used in SPSS software, version 24, and STATA software, version 17.

The mean scores of fear and anxiety were 21.89±5.87 and 16.63±11.71, respectively. According to the GLM model, factors such as age, number of pregnancies, number of living children, level of COVID-19-related anxiety were the significant predictors of the fear of COVID-19 (P<0.05), while the number of pregnancies, infection with COVID-19 among close contacts during pregnancy, and fear of COVID-19 were the significant predictors of COVID-19-related anxiety (P<0.05).

Given the predictors of fear and anxiety related to COVID-19 among pregnant women, providing educational programs by mass media or health centers to these women can has an effective role in controlling or alleviating their anxiety and fear during the health-related disasters.