The relationship between pandemic anxiety and mother-baby battle and postpartum depression

The study, which was conducted to determine the relationship between pandemic anxiety and mother-baby attachment, and postpartum depression, was designed as descriptive and relationship-seeking. The research was conducted in 5 Family Health Centers (FHC) in Gaziantep Province, Şehitkamil District, between January 2022 and April 2022, after obtaining work permits and ethics committee approval. The sample calculation method, whose universe is known, was used to determine the number of samples, and the study was carried out with 413 mothers. Research data were collected using the Introductory Information Form, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, the Mother-Infant Attachment Scale, and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. The researcher collected the data through face-to-face interviews after the mothers were informed about the purpose of the research and the questionnaire. In the study, 13.6% of the mothers had COVID-19 during pregnancy, 36.1% remained in quarantine due to COVID-19 infection, 21.1% had a family loss due to COVID-19 infection, and 46.5% It was determined that, did not have COVID-19 vaccine. The mothers' mean EPDS score was 11.85±6.86, the mean ABBÖ score was 3.48±3.92, and the mean CAI score was 3.77±5.18. When the CAI cutoff score was ≥ 5, 32% of the mothers; If ≥9 is taken, 18.2% of them have coronavirus anxiety; According to the EPDS cut-off point (12), 52.1% of the mothers were found to be at risk for postpartum depression. Among mothers' education, delivery type, health problems during pregnancy and experiencing stress factors that may affect life, previous postpartum depression, staying in quarantine, loss of family due to COVID-19 infection, and having COVID-19 vaccine, and the mean scores of EPDS; between education, employment status, number of pregnancies, loss of family due to COVID-19 infection, and COVID-19 vaccination status and ABBÖ median values; A statistically significant difference was found between education level, number of pregnancies, family type and loss of family due to COVID-19 infection, and median CAI values (p<0.05). The study found a statistically significant and positive weak correlation between the mothers' CSQ and the mean EPDS and ABBÖ scores. In line with the findings, It was concluded that few of the mothers experienced coronavirus anxiety, more than half of them were at risk for postpartum depression, and their maternal attachment levels were good. In addition, it was determined that the pandemic anxiety of the mothers increased the risk rates of postpartum depression and the level of maternal attachment problems. In case of future epidemics, the results of studies on mothers' anxiety, postpartum depression, and maternal attachment processes should be evaluated, and appropriate policies should be established especially for health professionals to prevent the problems experienced. Keywords:Pandemic Anxiety, Maternal Attachment, Postpartum Depression