The relationship with physical and mental health problems of women 18-65 years old and the fear of the COVİD-19 pandemic

Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the physical and mental health problems of women aged 18-65 and the relationship between these problems and the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: This research was carried out analytical and cross-sectionally with women between the ages of 18-65, registired in Yeniceköy District of Ödemiş District of İzmir,and determined by random sampling method. The data of the research were collected with the Introductory Information Form, Physical and Mental Health Determination Form, Covid-19 Fear Scale and General Health Survey. Descriptive statics (number, percentage, arithmetic mean, standard deviation), corelation, Mann-Whitney U ve Kruskal Wallis tests, logistic and multiple regression analyzes were used in the analysis of data. In evaluating the data, a significance level of p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean age of the women surveyed 48.84 ± 13.56 (min: 18, max:65). It was determined that 78.8% of the womaen were primary school graduates and 90.4% were housewife. It was determained that 57.7% of women defined their income as equal to their expenses, 95.5% had social security and 78.2% were married or living together. It was determined that 50.6% of women had physical health problems and 20.5% had mental health problems. Covid-19 Fear Scale score of women with physical and mental health problems was higher than that of women without physical and mental health problems, and this difference was found to be significant in the statistical evaluation. Conclusion: As a result, this study concluded that those with physical and mental health problems experienced more fear of COVID-19. Midwives and nurses' provision of quality services in practices such as care and counseling given to women, taking into account the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic, can contribute to minimizing the fear experienced. Keywords: COVID-19, Pandemic, Woman's Health