Evaluate the severi̇ty of anxi̇ety and depressi̇on i̇n pregnant women duri̇ng the covid-19 pandemi̇c

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the severity of anxiety and depression in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, investigating the demographic and economic aspects affecting maternal anxiety and depression scores in pandemic development was also aimed. Materials and methods: Our study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Pregnant women who applied to Akdeniz University Gynecology and Obstetrics Department Pregnancy Clinic and Kepez State Hospital Pregnancy Outpatient Clinic between September 2020 and October 2020 were included. Anxiety was evaluated using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). Patients with any obstetric and / or fetal abnormality that might cause anxiety and depression during pregnancy follow-up and pregnant women with a previous diagnosis of psychiatric disease were not included. Results: A total of 322 pregnant women who accepted to participate and met the study criteria, were included in the study. The mean age of the pregnant women was 29 ± 5.64, the average gravida was 1.84 ± 0.86, and the mean week of gestation was 29.06 ± 9.80. The average score of the state anxiety scale was 41.7 ± 5.56 and the average point of trait anxiety was 47.68 ± 5.85. State anxiety score average was 42.5 in primigravida and 41.1 in multigravida. State anxiety score was significantly higher in primigravida compared to multigravida (p = 0.027). The average state anxiety score was not statistically associated with occupational status, suffering from a chronic disease, educational status and monthly income. The average trait anxiety score was not statistically associated with occupational status, suffering from a chronic disease, being primigravida, educational status and monthly income. According to BDI-II, 69.3% of the pregnant women were defined as having minimal depression, 12.4% as having mild depression, 12.4% as having moderate depression, and 5.9% as having severe depression. Conclusion: Depression of varying severity were detected in a significant portion of the pregnant women who were included in the study. Disorders of severe anxiety and depression have significant perinatal consequences. Evaluating pregnant women regarding these disorders seem as a convenient and necessary step in the routine pregnancy follow-up during the current COVID-19 pandemic and in future pandemic processes. Keywords: Anxiety, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Depression, Pandemic, Pregnancy