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నైరూప్య

Perceptions on the COVID-19 Pandemic by Pregnant Women in South Eastern Nigeria

Joseph Ifeanyi Brian*, Egeonu Richard Obinwanne, Nnedum Ugochukwu, Adinma-Obiajulu Nneoma Dolores, Edet Mark Matthew

Background: The ravaging COVID-19 pandemic has constituted a major contemporary global health challenge. Pregnant women are believed to be at risk due to immunological changes associated with pregnancy. Assessment of the pregnant women’s perception on COVID-19 is necessary to provide a more holistic approach to their care during such pandemics.

Objective: To determine the perception on COVID-19 by pregnant women attending antenatal care in southeastern Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study conducted among 370 pregnant antenatal care clinic attendees in health facilities in Anambra state, southeastern Nigeria. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 26; and the results presented in tables and charts.

Results: Out of 370 pregnant womens studied, majority (49.2%) were of 25-29 years age range. The predominant gestational age was <28 weeks (44.1%); while majority were of 1-4 parity group (89.5%), and of social classes 5(29.2%), 4(28.1%), and 3(27.6%). Two hundred and twenty (59.0%) women perceived the COVID-19 to be real; (27.0%) perceived it to be a ploy to steal money; while (18.9%) believed it to be a scam. Most common symptoms and signs of COVID-19 perceived by the women include cough and catarrh (89.7%); fever (69.7%); headache (63.2%). Three hundred and twenty (86.5%) of the women perceived that COVID-19 is a serious disease and their major reason was that COVID-19 is lethal (66.6%); (29.2%) perceived that COVID-19 is likely to affect pregnant women than none and their reason was mainly due to reduced immunity during pregnancy; (58.9%) thought that COVID-19 can harm pregnancy and that it has the ability to kill the baby in the womb (63.3%); (41.6%) believed it can affect pregnancy and childbirth; more than half (51.4%) thought lockdown is not necessary because of having the tendency to increase hunger (83.2%). The women’s major source of information on COVID-19 was electronic media (82.7%) followed by social media (62.7%).

Conclusion: This study shows that majority of pregnant women perceived COVID-19 to be real, lethal and with deleterious consequences to pregnancy. COVID-19 therefore constitutes a source of anxiety to them. Effective counseling will reduce anxiety and optimize pregnancy outcomes.