The use of personal protective equipment as an independent factor for developing depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms in the postpartum period

Hadar Gluska, Yael Mayer, Noga Shiffman, Rawan Daher, Lior Elyasyan, Nofar Elia, Maya Sharon Weiner, Hadas Miremberg, Michal Kovo, Tal Biron-Shental, Liat Helpman, Rinat Gabbay-Benziv

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: New recommendations regarding the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during delivery have changed the maternal birth experience. In this study, we investigated the mental perceived impact of PPE use during delivery on the development of maternal postpartum depression (PPD) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS).

METHODS: This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study concerning women who delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic first lockdown period in Israel. Postpartum women were approached and asked to complete a comprehensive online questionnaire. Impact of PPE was graded on a scale of 1-5, and Impact of PPE ≥4 was considered high. PPD and PTSS were assessed using the EPDS and City BiTS questionnaires.

RESULTS: Of 421 parturients, 36 (9%) reported high Impact of PPE. Parturients with high Impact of PPE had significantly higher PPD and PTSS scores)EPDS 8.4 ± 5.8 vs. 5.7 ± 5.3; City BiTS 9.2 ± 10.3 vs. 5.8 ± 7.8, p < 0.05 for both). Following adjustment for socio-demographic and delivery confounders and fear of COVID-19 (using Fear of COVID19 scale), Impact of PPE remained positively correlated with PPD symptoms (ß = 0.103, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.029-1.006, p = 0.038).

CONCLUSION: When examining the risk factors for developing postpartum PTSS-experiences during labor and PPE were found to be significant variables. As the use of PPE is crucial in this era of COVID-19 pandemic in order to protect both parturients and caregivers, creative measures should be taken in order to overcome the communication gap it poses.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere34
JournalEuropean Psychiatry
Volume64
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association.

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Childbirth
  • City birth Trauma Scale (City BiTS)
  • Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
  • personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • postpartum depression (PPD)
  • postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Personal Protective Equipment/adverse effects
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/etiology
  • Depression, Postpartum/diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Risk Factors
  • Postpartum Period/psychology
  • Communicable Disease Control
  • Pregnancy
  • Fear
  • COVID-19/epidemiology
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Israel

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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