Depression, anxiety, and physical activity among antenatal women during COVID-19 pandemic

Siti Roshaidai Mohd Arifin (Department of Special Care Nursing, Kulliyyah of Nursing, International Islamic University Malaysia)
Seri Wardah Zulkifli (Thomson Hospital Damansara City)
Khadijah Hasanah Abang Abdullah (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia)
Fathima Begum Syed Mohideen (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia)
Nurul Ain Hidayah Abas (Department of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Human Development, Sultan Idris University of Education)
Asma Perveen (Department of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Human Development, Sultan Idris University of Education)
Rohayah Husain (Psychological Medicine Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Sultan Zainal Abidin University)
Khairi Che Mat (Psychological Medicine Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Sultan Zainal Abidin University)
Karimah Hanim Abd Aziz (Department of Community Medicine, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia)
Edre Mohamad Aidid (Department of Community Medicine, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia)
Ramli Musa (Department of Psychiatry, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia)
Izazol Idris (Department of Educational Studies, Faculty of Human Development, Sultan Idris University of Education)

International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS)
Vol 11, No 4: December 2022

The prevalence of mental health problems among antenatal women has escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Physical activity palys role to reduce depression and anxiety, which required to be studied further. This study aimed to assess the association between physical activity with depression and anxiety among antenatal women during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study applied convenience sampling to recruit 544 antenatal women from March to June 2021. Questionnaires including the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS), state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), and pregnancy physical activity questionnaire (PPAQ) were distributed via social media to determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and physical activity level. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, mann-whitney, and kruskal wallis tests. Out of 544 antenatal women, 24.1% of them had depressive symptoms and 82.4% had anxiety. Only 12.1% of the women were sufficiently active during the pandemic. There was no association between physical activity, depression, and anxiety. The high prevalence of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic among Malaysian antenatal women underscores the urgent need for addressing this public health burden. Interventions to alleviate the symptoms should include strategies beyond physical activity, for example, a mobile application or telephone-delivered social support that is made easily accessible throughout the pandemic.