Open AccessEffects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Pregnant and Puerperal Women: A Systematic Review
Author(s) -
Letícia Genova Vieira,
E. Camargo,
Guilherme Schneider,
Gabrielly Pereira Rocatti da Silva,
Micaella Thomazini,
Matheus Arantes Possani,
Matheus Rozário Matioli,
Aline Raquel de Sousa Ibiapina
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the open nursing journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.386
H-Index - 15
ISSN - 1874-4346
DOI - 10.2174/1874434602115010388
Subject(s) - mental health , loneliness , anxiety , pandemic , medicine , psychiatry , population , depression (economics) , distress , psychology , covid-19 , clinical psychology , disease , environmental health , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics , macroeconomics
Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused negative impacts on the physical and mental health of the population worldwide. Pregnant and puerperal women comprise the population most vulnerable to impacts on mental health. Objective: To synthesize the scientific evidence on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of pregnant and puerperal women. Methods: This systematic review focused on answering the question “what is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of pregnant and puerperal women?” In order to perform the search of the studies, we used combinations of keywords: pregnant, puerperal, prenatal, perinatal, mental health, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 . We identified 132 studies from the databases and 18 studies from preprints. In total, we elected 14 studies and another four studies by manual search, making up a total of 18 studies, to compose the final sample of this review. Results: Anxiety and depression were the main outcomes found, being shown in 15 and 11 studies, respectively. Other outcomes found in more than one study were: concerns related to several factors, loneliness, stress, and fear. Conclusion: From this review, we can infer that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health of pregnant and puerperal women, with depression and anxiety being the most frequent changes. The social detachment, the media pressure, the fear of contracting the infection, the economic scenario, and the rupture of family rituals are shown as intensifying factors of psychological distress, thus causing changes in the mental health of these women.