Negative Emotions, Triggers, and Coping Strategies Among Postpartum Indian Women During Second Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for the Subsequent Waves and Beyond

Archana Kumari; Parul Jaiswal; Piyush Ranjan; Rajesh Kumari; Rakesh Kumar Chadda; Ashish Datt Upadhyay; Neerja Bhatla

doi:10.1007/s13224-022-01713-z

Negative Emotions, Triggers, and Coping Strategies Among Postpartum Indian Women During Second Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for the Subsequent Waves and Beyond

J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2023 Apr;73(2):146-159. doi: 10.1007/s13224-022-01713-z. Epub 2022 Oct 13.

Authors

Archana Kumari¹, Parul Jaiswal¹, Piyush Ranjan², Rajesh Kumari¹, Rakesh Kumar Chadda³, Ashish Datt Upadhyay⁴, Neerja Bhatla¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
² Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, 110029 New Delhi, India.
³ Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
⁴ Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Abstract

Introduction: The study aimed to evaluate COVID-19 associated psychological distress among pregnant and postpartum women during the second wave of COVID-19 in India.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was done using a pre-validated tool involving 491 participants attending a tertiary-care hospital during the second wave of COVID-19 in India.

Results: Three-fourths of participants experienced negative emotions such as fear and various features of depression. Participants (75%) reported COVID-related news on TV/Radio/Newspapers including social media as the major trigger for these negative emotions. Loss of social support mainly affected postpartum women (p < 0.001) and working women (p < 0.001). Inability to access healthcare services had negative associations with age (p < 0.001), education (p < 0.001), and socioeconomic class (p < 0.001). Various coping strategies being followed by participants included watching TV/Videos or reading books (93%), resorting to social media (77%), spending more time praying and meditating (86%), and engaging in hobbies (56%).

Conclusion: During the second wave, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significantly high negative impact on the psychological and social well-being of pregnant and postpartum women. Hence, it is important to initiate appropriate preventive and corrective steps by the policymakers for any future waves of the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Developing country; Postpartum women; Pregnant women.

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