Perceived threat, negative emotions and self-efficacy in relation to mental health and personal protective behavior among 4,087 Chinese pregnant women during the COVID-19 period: Results from an online survey (Preprint)
BACKGROUND COVID-19 is one of the emerging infectious diseases that has confronted the world. Pregnant women are particularly affected. OBJECTIVE The present study assessed the level of perceived threat (susceptibility, severity, impact), negative emotions (fear, worry) and self-efficacy of COVID-19, and examined their association with mental health (depression and anxiety) and personal protective behavior (wearing face mask) among pregnant women in China. METHODS A total of 4,087 pregnant women from China completed a cross-sectional online survey between 3 to 10 March 2020. RESULTS The prevalence of probable depression and anxiety was 48.7% and 33.0% respectively; 23.8% reported always wearing face mask when going out. Between 32.1% to 36.4% of participants perceived themselves or their family members were susceptible to COVID-19 infection, between 78.7% to 86.1% agreed the disease would have various severe consequences. Between 54.7% to 55.7% showed self-efficacy in protecting themselves or their family members from contracting COVID-19; 31.8% reported a high level of fear to the disease, and 68% to 74.8% showed worries about various aspects of COVID-19. Results from multivariate logistic regressions showed that perceived severity, perceived impact, fear and worry were risk factors, while self-efficacy was a protective factor for probable depression and anxiety. Perceived susceptibility and perceived severity were associated with always wearing face mask. CONCLUSIONS Chinese pregnant women showed high level of mental distress but low level of personal protective behavior during the COVID-19 period. Interventions are needed to promote their mental health and health behavior.