Psychological status of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nairobi County, Kenya: a cross-sectional study

Pregnancy is associated with an increased psychological burden on women. This burden may be worsened by uncertainty occasioned by pandemics such as the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The study aims to investigate the psychological status of pregnant women following the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 126 pregnant women at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. Data on the women's sociodemographic and obstetric factors, levels of depression, anxiety, and insomnia were recorded on a questionnaire. SPSS version 29 was used to perform paired t-test and multivariate regression analysis to assess for statistically significant association between sociodemographic, obstetrics factors, and related factors on COVID-19-related stressors with depression, anxiety, and insomnia. High levels of depression, anxiety, and insomnia were noted with a mean Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score of 14.90 ± 5.25, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) score of 44.12 ± 9.73 and Women's Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale (WHIIRS) score of 10.07 ± 5.81 respectively. There was a strong association between depression, anxiety, and insomnia with specific factors. In conclusion, pregnant women in Kenya experienced significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.