The Relationship Between Fear and Anxiety of Corona and Childbirth Experiences in Women Referring to Health Centers in Mazandaran Province: A Longitudinal Study

Although fear and anxiety during pregnancy can be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, the existing studies show various results. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between fear and anxiety of COVID-19 and childbirth experiences.

This longitudinal study was conducted in six cities of Mazandaran province between June 2021 to February of the same year on 278 pregnant women using a multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected using the Fear of COVID-19 questionnaire, the Anxiety of COVID-19 questionnaire, and the Vijima Childbirth Experience questionnaire. Variables were described using descriptive indices and their analysis was done using a multiple linear regression model.

In this study, 135 participants (48.6%) had fear of COVID-19, and 126 (45.3%) had anxiety about COVID-19. Univariate analysis showed that the fear of COVID-19 had a significant relationship with the negative experience of childbirth (P-value<0.001), but the fear and anxiety of COVID-19 were not associated with neonatal outcomes. Multiple linear models show that the fear of COVID-19 has the greatest impact on the domain of lack of positive anticipation of childbirth experience (B=0.388).

Considering the fear and anxiety of COVID-19 are associated with a negative experience of childbirth, therefore, health policymakers should focus on appropriate solutions and interventions to reduce the fear and anxiety of this group of women in similar cases in the future.