Impacto da pandemia pela Covid-19 na saúde mental e qualidade de vida de gestantes de alto risco atendidas em um centro de referência no nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

Introduction: The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) generated several sanitary and social isolation measures promoted by the authorities. Pregnant women were included as one of the most susceptible population group to COVID-19 due to several aspects, causing in this group a greater rigidity in social distancing, increasing fear and anxiety in a notoriously fragile period of life. It is known that the high prevalence of perinatal depression is influenced by risk factors, including increased somatic symptoms, exposure to intimate partner violence, little social support, and unwanted pregnancy. Objective: To evaluate the association of mental disorders in the mental health and quality of life of high-risk postpartum pregnant patients attended at the obstetrics service of the Professor Alberto Antunes University Hospital (HUPAA/UFAL) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, with a sample of 51 postpartum women up to 48 hours postpartum admitted to the obstetrics service of HUPAA/UFAL. Three instruments were filled out: a form developed exclusively for this research to investigate the socioeconomic aspects of the sample, a questionnaire to assess quality of life (SF-36) and the international neuropsychiatric mini-interview (MINI version 7.0.2). Results: The mean age of the sample was 28.61 years (SD ±6.49). A lifetime prevalence of 27.5% of mental disorders was identified in the interviewed patients, with major depression predominating as the main diagnosis in 23.5% of the sample, while suicidal ideation was present in 7.8% of the sample, and attempted suicide in 3.9%, which is associated with higher scores for suicide risk, as well as the presence of any mental disorder throughout life. Regarding quality-of-life scores, there was a significant association between patients with a current depressive episode and lower scores for physical functioning, physical performance, body pain, vitality, mental health, and general health status. Conclusion: More than a quarter of the sample had some mental disorder throughout life and there was an association of lower scores in several quality-of-life domains in patients with a current depressive episode.