Anxiety Following the COVID-19 Vaccination Program among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics at a Tertiary Care Centre in Southern Province, Sri Lanka

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the mental health of the pregnant population. Increased antenatal anxiety levels were observed globally due to the pandemic itself and the introduction of novel vaccinations. The study attempted to assess antenatal anxiety and risk factors related to COVID-19 anxiety, after the initiation of the vaccination campaign for COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Teaching Hospital Mahamodara, sixteen months after the vaccination campaign. Anxiety levels were screened with the validated Sinhala version of the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS-S) and associated risk factors were explored. Clinical antenatal anxiety was detected among 17.9%, similar to anxiety levels present during the pandemic in Sri Lanka (17.5% vs 17.9%). A majority (63.4%), were asymptomatic, 33.5% had mild to moderate anxiety and 3.1% had severe anxiety. Maternal age, parity, gestation, presence of complications, education, income, employment, or a COVID-19-infected family member were not associated with antenatal anxiety. Nor did the vaccination status of the pregnant women or their spouses, demonstrate an association with anxiety. Newspapers and television were the sources accessed by a majority to gain information and 36.6% were concerned about the health effects on the fetus. Antenatal anxiety remained unchanged post the initiation of the COVID-19 vaccination program in Sri Lanka. Antenatal anxiety did not demonstrate a significant association with sociodemographic or obstetric factors and the COVID-19 vaccination status.