Covimater: Behaviors and Mental Health of Pregnant Women During the First Lockdown of the COVID-19 Pandemic

On July 6, 2020, Santé publique France, in collaboration with experts, faculty members, and clinicians in the field of perinatal care, launched the Covimater survey to assess the impact of the first lockdown on the experiences of pregnant women and their pregnancies.

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While anyone can contract COVID-19, certain groups, including women in their third trimester of pregnancy, are considered to be at higher risk of severe forms of the disease (March 31, 2020, advisory from the High Council for Public Health). The lack of knowledge about the virus has led scientists and clinicians to focus their studies primarily on the medical impact of SARS-CoV-2 in pregnant women infected late in pregnancy. Few studies have been conducted to measure the impact of the pandemic and lockdown on pregnant women, regardless of their trimester of pregnancy and whether or not they were infected.

A survey to assess the behaviors, experiences, and mental health of pregnant women during the first lockdown of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

How did pregnant women adapt their behaviors? What changes, if any, occurred in their prenatal care? What psychological impact did this health crisis have on pregnant women? To answer these questions, on July 6, 2020, Santé publique France launched the Covimater survey in collaboration with experts, faculty researchers, and clinicians in the field of perinatal care to assess the impact of the first lockdown on the experiences and mental health of pregnant women and their prenatal care. Conducted among 500 pregnant women aged 18 and older living in metropolitan France, the survey examined their experiences of lockdown,their implementation of preventive measures, changes in their prenatal care, their need for communication with healthcare professionals, and their mental health during lockdown and two months afterward.

Objectives of the Covimater Study

The objectives of the study are to describe:

  • the implementation of preventive measures and their adherence over time

  • perceptions of the pandemic, particularly the specific concerns of pregnant women and their need for communication with healthcare professionals

  • the impact of the pandemic and lockdown on medical pregnancy care

  • the impact of the pandemic and lockdown on perceived psychological well-being

For each objective, the mother’s demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, her lockdown conditions, and the characteristics of the pregnancy—particularly the stage of pregnancy during lockdown (1st, 2nd, or 3rd trimester)—were taken into account. Particular attention will be paid to describing potential social inequalities in the impact of the pandemic and lockdown on pregnant women. Data collected from pregnant women during lockdown in the Covimater survey will be compared with data collected from women of childbearing age surveyed in the CoviPrev survey.

What will the results be used for?

The analyses from the Covimater survey will be published in 2021. They will provide valuable insights into the main factors influencing the adoption of preventive measures, the forgoing of care, the need for communication with healthcare professionals, and mental health among pregnant women during lockdown, in order to identify targets and levers for intervention.

The survey results will enable the implementation, if necessary, of targeted monitoring of these women and will contribute to the preventive measures to be implemented in the event of a new wave of the pandemic, with or without lockdown.