Abstract:

Background: Risk perception and COVID-19 anxiety in pregnant women restrict access to health services, cause pregnant women to resort to alternative channels such as the Internet, and affect prenatal care quality (PCQ) negatively.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of risk perception and COVID-19 anxiety in pregnancy on decision-making via the Internet (DMI) and PCQ with multivariate analysis.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 406 pregnant women selected using the convenience sampling method in a training and research hospital, in Turkey. The data were collected using the information form, the perception of pregnancy risk questionnaire, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, the DMI Scale, and the PCQ Scale. The data obtained were subject to descriptive analysis and the multivariate analysis of variance.
Results: Approximately 24.9% of the pregnant women were found to have a high perception of risk and 18% had symptoms of COVID-19 anxiety. Pregnant women with high COVID-19 anxiety and a higher perception of risk perceived the Internet as less influential for decision-making (P < 0.05). Pregnant women with a high-risk perception had lower PCQ (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings can be used to enhance mental health and resilience in pregnant women and to formulate appropriate intervention strategies.

Key words: COVID-19 anxiety, decision-making via the Internet, perception of risk, pregnancy, prenatal care quality