Pandemic-Related Anxieties Persist Among Pregnant Women in Post-COVID-19 Era

Strategic Insights -

According to a recent study published in the Midwifery journal, the end of COVID-19 as a global public health emergency in 2023 has not alleviated the psychological distress felt by pregnant women. Research conducted at Cheng Hsin General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, found that primiparous Taiwanese women continued to experience significant anxiety and trauma-like responses related to childbirth experiences during the post-pandemic era. These anxieties were closely tied to concerns about respiratory illnesses, labor pain, and medical interventions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved in-depth interviews with 20 primiparous women who had recently given birth at a regional teaching hospital in northern Taiwan, between January and December 2023.
  • Four major themes emerged from the analysis: (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.
  • Healthcare providers were urged to offer real-time explanations, emotional support, and psychological care to help mothers feel safe and positively process their childbirth experiences.
  • Clinicians should be aware of the compounded stress experienced by pregnant women in the post-pandemic era and adapt their care to address these needs.

Statistics:

  • The study involved 20 primiparous women who participated in in-depth interviews.
  • The interviews were conducted between January and December 2023, a period of approximately 12 months.
  • Four major themes emerged from the analysis, highlighting the complexity of the psychological distress experienced by pregnant women in the post-pandemic era.
  • The study noted that participants reported a high level of anxiety and trauma-like responses, highlighting the need for targeted support from healthcare providers.

Sources:

  • Lin, C., Shey, K., Chou, C., & Pan, W. (2025). Respiratory disease anxiety and negative pregnancy and childbirth experiences among pregnant women in the post-COVID-19 era. Midwifery, 151, 104629.
  • Elsevier Sci Ltd. (Publisher contact information). Midwifery, 125 London Wall, London, England.
  • NewsRx. (2025, November 1). Researchers at Cheng Hsin General Hospital Detail Findings in COVID-19 (Respiratory disease anxiety and negative pregnancy and childbirth experiences among pregnant women in the post-COVID-19 era). Psychology & Psychiatry Journal, p 189.