Evaluation of Mental Health and Well-Being and its Relationship with Weight Gain of Pregnant Mothers During the Outbreak of Covid-19

Considering that pregnant women are one of the health sensitive groups and their mental health and mental well-being is effective on their health, family and society and on the other hand due to the prevalence of COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on psychological dimensions of this study; therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine and evaluate the state of mental health and well-being and its relationship with the weight gain of pregnant mothers during the outbreak of COVID-19 disease.

The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2021. The statistical population included 245 pregnant women referring to health centers in Yasuj during the pandemic of COVID-19. Evaluation of mental health status and mental well-being and their related factors during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic were obtained according to the required information through two questionnaires of general health and psychological well-being (Reef) and demographic characteristics including: (age, education level of pregnant mother and spouse) Employment status of pregnant mother and spouse, frequency of pregnancy, gestational age and body mass index) were asked in an interview. The collected data were analyzed using Kolmogorfe-Smirno, Kruskal-Wallis, Human Whitney, Spearman and Pearson statistical tests.

The present study was conducted on 245 pregnant women with a mean and standard deviation of 29.72. 6.61. The mean and standard deviation of the total mental health score in the studied pregnant women was 24.50 11 11.32, which according to the cut-off point 23 for the mental health of Iranians, the results of this study showed that 62.9% of pregnant mothers were suspected of having the disorder. The study of psychological well-being of pregnant women indicated that the mean total score and standard deviation of psychological well-being was 11.58 74 74.19. The results of the study showed that pre-pregnancy weight and current weight of the pregnant mother with mean mental health scores (p = 0.05 and r = -0.125) and (p = 0.024 and r = -0.144, respectively)) There is a significant inverse relationship with the mean score of psychological well-being (directly (p = 0.020 and r = 0.148, respectively) and (p = 0.043 and r = 0.129, respectively).

The present study revealed that the prevalence of mental disorders in pregnant women in Yasuj during the COVID-19 pandemic was high; therefore, the issue can play a major role in the health of mother, fetus and infant after birth. Among the related factors studied, the level of literacy of the pregnant mother, pre-pregnancy weight and current weight of the mother had a significant correlation with the mean score of mental health and psychological well-being.