Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas- UNICAMP, R. Tessália Vieira de Camargo 126, Cidade Universitária, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-887, Brazil.
Women Birth. 2022 Jul;35(4):403-412. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2021.08.009. Epub 2021 Aug 27.
The COVID-19 pandemic raises health issues worldwide. Infected pregnant women may have negative mental health outcomes, but little is known about their emotional experiences.
We aimed to understand the experience of women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy, regarding their feelings, their relationships, and the influence of social media.
We conducted a qualitative study among 22 women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy, from a tertiary hospital during the first wave of the pandemic in Brazil (May-August 2020). We applied semi-directed interviews, sociodemographic and health data sheets, and field diaries. We built the sample purposefully. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. We used thematic analysis and discussed data considering the health psychology framework.
We created five categories following a timeline perspective, from before infection to the experience after recovering. Pregnant women were resistant to believing the diagnosis. They described a fear of serious symptoms or death, concerns about the fetus, sorrow from being isolated, and worries about stigma. Family relationships were ambiguous, generating either support or tension. The attachment to the health team through telemedicine or support during hospitalization produced a feeling of security.
Participants psychologically denied the COVID-19 diagnosis and did not accomplish isolation properly, even upon medical recommendations. The illness may produce a traumatic experience, regardless of mild or severe symptoms, but family/friend support and contact with the health team helped them to cope. We offer important insights for the clinical approach and future research, emphasizing that infected pregnant women require emotional support.
COVID-19 大流行引发了全球范围内的健康问题。感染的孕妇可能会出现负面的心理健康结果，但对于她们的情感体验知之甚少。
我们旨在了解感染 COVID-19 的孕妇在怀孕期间的体验，包括她们的感受、她们的人际关系以及社交媒体的影响。
我们在巴西大流行的第一波期间（2020 年 5 月至 8 月）在一家三级医院对 22 名感染 COVID-19 的孕妇进行了定性研究。我们应用了半结构化访谈、社会人口学和健康数据表以及现场日记。我们有目的地构建了样本。访谈进行了录音，并逐字记录下来。我们使用了主题分析，并考虑了健康心理学框架来讨论数据。
我们根据时间线创建了五个类别，从感染前到康复后的经历。孕妇对诊断持怀疑态度。她们描述了对严重症状或死亡的恐惧、对胎儿的担忧、因被隔离而感到悲伤以及对污名的担忧。家庭关系模棱两可，产生支持或紧张。通过远程医疗或住院期间的支持与医疗团队保持联系，产生了一种安全感。
尽管有医学建议，但参与者在心理上否认了 COVID-19 的诊断，并且没有正确地进行隔离。无论症状是轻微还是严重，疾病都可能产生创伤性体验，但家庭/朋友的支持和与医疗团队的联系帮助了她们应对。我们为临床方法和未来的研究提供了重要的见解，强调感染的孕妇需要情感支持。
