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The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 among Women Accessing Family Care Centers during Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Ilaria Lega

    (National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità—Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Alessandra Bramante

    (Società Marcé Italiana per la Salute Mentale Perinatal, Italian Marcé Society, Via Donatello 26A, 20131 Milan, Italy)

  • Laura Lauria

    (National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità—Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Pietro Grussu

    (Consultorio Familiare South Padua District, Azienda ULSS 6 Euganea, Via Enrico degli Scrovegni 14, 35131 Padua, Italy)

  • Valeria Dubini

    (Area Assistenza Sanitaria Territoriale e Continuità, Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Piazza Santa Maria Nuova 1, 50122 Firenze, Italy)

  • Marcella Falcieri

    (AUSL di Bologna, Via Castiglione, 29, 40124 Bologna, Italy)

  • Maria Carmen Ghiani

    (ASSL di Olbia, ATS Sardegna, Via Bazzoni-Sircana 2/2°, 07026 Olbia, Italy)

  • Antonia Giordano

    (Attività Consultoriali ASL TO3, Via Martiri XXX Aprile 30, 10093 Collegno, TO, Italy)

  • Stefania Guidomei

    (AUSL di Bologna, Via Castiglione, 29, 40124 Bologna, Italy)

  • Anna Domenica Mignuoli

    (ASP Cosenza, Viale Degli Alimena 8, 87100 Cosenza, Italy)

  • Serena Paris

    (Direzione Professioni Sanitarie e Sociali, ASST Bergamo Est, Via Paderno 21, 24068 Seriate, BG, Italy)

  • Maria Enrica Bettinelli

    (Coordinamento Attività Consultoriali, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Via Sant’ Erlembardo 4, 20126 Milan, Italy)

  • Patrizia Proietti

    (UOC Assistenza Alla Persona, ASL Roma 2, Via Maria Brighenti 23, 00159 Rome, Italy)

  • Silvia Andreozzi

    (National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità—Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Valeria Brenna

    (Società Marcé Italiana per la Salute Mentale Perinatal, Italian Marcé Society, Via Donatello 26A, 20131 Milan, Italy)

  • Mauro Bucciarelli

    (National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità—Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Gabriella Martelli

    (National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità—Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Claudia Ferraro

    (National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità—Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy)

  • Melissa Torrisi

    (Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy)

  • Danilo Carrozzino

    (Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Serena Donati

    (National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Istituto Superiore di Sanità—Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

There has been concern about the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on women’s mental health during the perinatal period. We conducted a cross-sectional web-based study aimed at evaluating the psychological impact (BSI-18) of the COVID-19 pandemic on this population and collecting information on the perinatal experiences (COPE-IS) during the second Italian wave. Overall, 1168 pregnant women, and 940 within the first six months after childbirth, were recruited in selected Italian Family Care Centers from October 2020 to May 2021. The prevalence of psychological distress symptoms during pregnancy was 12.1% and 9.3% in the postnatal group. Financial difficulties, a previous mood or anxiety disorder and lack of perceived social support and of support provided by health professionals were associated to psychological distress symptoms in both groups. A third of the women felt unsupported by their social network; 61.7% of the pregnant women experienced changes in antenatal care; 21.2% of those in the postnatal period gave birth alone; more than 80% of the participants identified access to medical and mental health care and self-help as important resources in the present context. Health services should assure enhanced support to the most vulnerable women who face the perinatal period during the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Ilaria Lega & Alessandra Bramante & Laura Lauria & Pietro Grussu & Valeria Dubini & Marcella Falcieri & Maria Carmen Ghiani & Antonia Giordano & Stefania Guidomei & Anna Domenica Mignuoli & Serena Par, 2022. "The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 among Women Accessing Family Care Centers during Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:1983-:d:746187
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Serena Donati & Edoardo Corsi & Michele Antonio Salvatore & Alice Maraschini & Silvia Bonassisa & Paola Casucci & Ilaria Cataneo & Irene Cetin & Paola D’Aloja & Gabriella Dardanoni & Elena De Ambrosi , 2021. "Childbirth Care among SARS-CoV-2 Positive Women in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-8, April.
    2. Anna Stepowicz & Barbara Wencka & Jan Bieńkiewicz & Wojciech Horzelski & Mariusz Grzesiak, 2020. "Stress and Anxiety Levels in Pregnant and Post-Partum Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-9, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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