Investigation of Anxiety and Depression Level in Patients who Applied with a Request of Pregnancy Termination During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objective: At a time when the spread of the COVID-19 virus is very rapid in Turkey, there is not enough information about the course of the pandemic and the effects of the COVID-19 infection in pregnancy, the family planning clinic of our hospital evaluates the levels of anxiety and depression in patients with demand for termination of pregnancy and the desire to terminate the pregnancy for COVID-19. We planned to investigate whether it was associated with concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: 132 patients with pregnancies below 10 weeks who applied to Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Training and Research Hospital Family Planning Outpatient Clinic with a request for termination of pregnancy in April 2020 and July 2020 were included. Results: The reasons for termination of pregnancy were stated as 60% not wanting another child, 23.5% economic reasons, 9.8% risky drug use, and 6.8% other reasons. None of the patients included in the study decided to terminate their pregnancy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The mean total score of the patients on the Beck Depression Inventory was 14 (0-43). Forty-six patients (34.8%) were evaluated as minimally depressed, 30 (22.7%) mild depression, 38 (28.8%) moderate depression, and 18 (13.6%) severe depression. The mean total score of the Beck Anxiety Inventory was 5 (0-44). One hundred and fifteen (87.1%) patients were classified as mild, 14 (10.6%) patients as moderate, and 3 (2.3%) patients as severe anxiety. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increase in the frequency of anxiety and depression in patients who have undergone pregnancy termination and especially who live with an elderly relative. It was observed that the COVID-19 pandemic was not effective in the decision to terminate the pregnancy and, similar to the previous data, not wanting another child was the most common reason.