COVID-19 Stressors and Maternal Mental Health in Georgia, United States: Sources, Effects, and Recommendations.

Abstract

Background and objective: While coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) stressors on women's mental health have been studied in the United States (US), very few have focused on pregnant and postnatal women in Georgia, US. This study sought to identify the sources of the COVID-19 stressors on the mental health of pregnant and postnatal women in Georgia during the pandemic, the effects of COVID-19 stressors on their mental health, and to provide recommendations for protecting the mental health of this population during a future pandemic or health emergency. Although the global health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic officially ended in 2023, and while its devastating effects have been largely overcome, its presence has left an indelible impression on populations worldwide.

Methods: A mixed-methods cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 66 study participants across eight domains using Qualtrics. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 28 and the Statistical Analysis Software version 9. Qualitative data were manually analyzed using a thematic approach.

Results: Before the pandemic, anxiety was experienced by 21.2% of the study participants, depression by 12.1%, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by 6.1%. These statistics almost doubled for anxiety (39.4%), more than doubled for depression (27.3%), and increased for PTSD (9.1%) during the pandemic. The fear of getting COVID-19 was the most prevalent stressor for both pregnant and postnatal women (39.4%), as well as the possibility of their babies or they themselves becoming sick. The most widespread effects of stressors caused by the pandemic were worry (50.0%), sadness (42.4%), and loneliness (36.4%). Very few of the study participants who experienced mental health conditions (25.6%) sought care from a mental health professional during the pandemic. Those who did not seek care (74.4%) said they coped by utilizing self-management strategies (cited 14 times), depended on family, partners, and friends for support (cited 11 times), or exercised (cited 7 times).

Conclusion and global health implications: The pandemic had a considerable impact on the mental health of pregnant and postnatal women in Georgia. It is essential for the local government and healthcare providers in Georgia and different parts of the world to be proactive and put in place mechanisms that will help to maintain the mental health of this population during a future pandemic or health emergency.