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

Abstract

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 of covid-19 is necessary to provide a more holistic approach to their care during such pandemics. Objective: To determine the perception of COVID-19 by pregnant women attending antenatal care in southeastern Nigeria. Subjects and method: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among 370 pregnant antenatal care clinic attendees in health facilities in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 26, and the results were presented in tables and charts. Result: Of the 370 pregnant women studied, the majority (49.2%) were of the 25-29 years age range. The predominant gestational age was <28 weeks (44.1%); while the majority were of the 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. The 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 the majority of pregnant women perceived covid-19 to be real, lethal and with deleterious consequences to pregnancy. COVID-19, therefore, constitute a source of anxiety to them. Effective counselling will reduce anxiety and optimize pregnancy outcomes.