Perception of COVID-19 among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinic of a tertiary care hospital, West Bengal

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnant women are at increased risk of serious illness and complications if infected with COVID-19 than the
general population.Thus, the present study was aimed to assess their perceptions regarding COVID-19 attending antenatal clinic of a tertiary care hospital.

Materials and methods:
A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in the ANC clinic of a tertiary care hospital. 246 pregnant women
who visited clinic on the days of data collection, were included for the study. Semi-structured questionnaire was used for
data collection.

Results:
Among the 243 participants, majority (55.1%) had 25-36 gestational weeks of pregnancy and 23.9% had history of previous
abortion. 53.9% told they took second booster dose while 21.8% didn’t receive any doses of COVID-19 vaccine.88.5%
responded yes regarding communicability of COVID-19 from person to person. 75.7% responded no when they were asked
about anyone suffered from COVID-19 including them as well. More than half of the participants said they don’t know
whether COVID-19can be transmitted from mother to child. 44.4% Don’t know whether COVID positive mother can breastfeed
her child.

Conclusion:
Some knowledge and good preventive practice like vaccination for COVID-19 were present among pregnant women but the
effect of COVID-19 in pregnancy is still not clear to them. Pregnant females should be educated regarding COVID-19 in
pregnancy