Download PDF
CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2021; 43(10): 765-774
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1736174
Original Article
COVID-19

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Depression and Sexual Function: Are Pregnant Women Affected More Adversely?

O impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 na depressão e na função sexual: as mulheres grávidas são afetadas de forma mais adversa?
Ramazan Denizli 
1   Department of Gynecology, Arhavi State Hospital, Artvin, Turkey
,
Önder Sakin 
2   Department of Gynecology, Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Kazibe Koyuncu 
2   Department of Gynecology, Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
,
Nayif Çiçekli 
3   Department of Gynecology, Mus State Hospital, Mus, Turkey
,
Nihat Farisoğulları 
4   Department of Gynecology, Viransehir State Hospital, Sanliurfa, Turkey
,
Mikail Özdemir 
5   Department of Public Health, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Objective To investigate depression and sexual function among pregnant and non-pregnant women throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods A total of 188 women, 96 pregnant and 92 non-pregnant were included. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) were applied to the participants after obtaining sociodemographic data.

Results The depression scores of pregnant and non-pregnant women were similar (p = 0.846). We found that the depression scores were significantly higher among the group of participants who have lower economic status (p = 0.046). Moreover, the depression score was significantly higher among women who lost their income during the pandemic (p = 0.027). The score on the ASEX was significantly higher, and sexual dysfunction was more prevalent among women who have lower levels of schooling and income (p < 0.05). Likewise, the ASEX scores were significantly higher (p = 0.019) among the group who experienced greater income loss throughout the pandemic. Upon comparing the pregnant and non-pregnant groups, we detected that sexual dysfunction had a significantly higher rate among pregnant women (p < 0.001).

Conclusion In times of global crisis, such as the current pandemic, low-income families have an increased risk of experiencing depression and sexual dysfunction. When we compared pregnant women with non-pregnant women, depression scores were similar, but pregnant women were at a 6.2 times higher risk of developing sexual dysfunction.

Resumo

Objetivo Investigar a depressão e as funções sexuais de mulheres grávidas e não grávidas durante a pandemia de Covid-19.

Métodos Um total de 188 mulheres, 96 grávidas e 92 não grávidas, foram incluídas. O Inventário de Depressão de Beck (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI, em inglês) e a Escala de Experiências Sexuais do Arizona (Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, ASEX, em inglês) foram aplicados aos participantes após a obtenção dos dados sociodemográficos.

Resultados As pontuações de depressão de mulheres grávidas e não grávidas foram semelhantes (p = 0,846). Verificou-se que as pontuações de depressão foram significativamente maiores no grupo de participantes de menor nível econômico (p = 0,046). Além disso, a pontuação de depressão foi significativamente maior em mulheres que perderam sua renda durante a pandemia (p = 0,027). A pontuação na ASEX foi significativamente maior, e a disfunção sexual foi mais prevalente em pessoas com menores escolaridade e nível de renda (p < 0,05). Da mesma forma, as pontuações na ASEX foram significativamente mais altas (p = 0,019) no grupo que experimentou maior perda de renda durante a pandemia. Ao comparar os grupos de gestantes e não gestantes, detectou-se que a disfunção sexual apresentava índice significativamente maior entre as gestantes (p <0,001).

Conclusão Em tempos de crise global, como a atual pandemia, famílias de baixa renda têm um risco maior de sofrer depressão e disfunção sexual. Quando comparamos mulheres grávidas e mulheres não grávidas, as pontuações de depressão foram semelhantes, mas as mulheres grávidas apresentaram um risco 6,2 vezes maior de desenvolver disfunção sexual.

Keywords

COVID-19 - pandemic - pregnant - depression - sexual function

Palavras-chave

Covid-19 - pandemia - grávida - depressão - função sexual

Contributions

All authors participated in the concept and design of the present study; in the analysis and interpretation of data; in the draft or revision of the manuscript; and they have approved the manuscript as submitted. All authors are responsible for the reported research.


Ethical considerations

All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.




Publication History

Received: 03 November 2020

Accepted: 08 August 2021

Article published online:
16 November 2021

© 2021. Federação Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil