Respiratory disease anxiety and negative pregnancy and childbirth experiences among pregnant women in the post-COVID-19 era.

BACKGROUND

Although the end of COVID-19 as a global public health emergency was officially declared in 2023, the perceived risk of infection and the lingering effects of prevention measures continue to affect the psychological well-being of pregnant women. This is particularly evident in relation to anxiety about respiratory illnesses, labour pain, and medical interventions among perinatal women.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, pandemic-related anxieties and childbirth experiences were explored among primiparous Taiwanese women in the postpandemic era. The analysis focused on these women's emotional challenges and psychological adjustment processes.

METHODS

In-depth interviews were conducted through a phenomenological approach with 20 primiparous women who had recently given birth at a regional teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. Data were collected between January and December 2023. Interview transcripts were analysed thematically, and codes and categories were compared manually using Excel spreadsheets to ensure consistency and rigour in theme development.

RESULTS

Four major themes emerged: (1) discrepancy between expectations and reality, (2) childbirth as an unbearable ordeal, (3) when birth becomes a battle, and (4) fear of future childbirth. Participants reported considerable anxiety and trauma-like responses associated with unexpected labour changes, perceived infection risks, and a loss of bodily control.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare providers must not underestimate the compounded stress experienced by pregnant women in the postpandemic era. Clinicians should offer real-time explanations, emotional support, and psychological care to help mothers feel safe and positively process their childbirth experiences.