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OBJECTIVE: Assess the association between prenatal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and preterm birth (PTB; delivery < 37 weeks gestation) and low birth weight (LBW; < 2500 g). METHODS: Pregnant individuals, > 18 years, were recruited in Canada and provided data through a web-based questionnaire. We analyzed data on persons recruited between 06/2020 and 08/2021 who completed questionnaires while pregnant and 2 months post-partum. Data on maternal sociodemographics, comorbidities, medication use, mental health (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, General Anxiety Disorder-7, stress), pandemic hardship (CONCEPTION-Assessment of Stress from COVID-19), and on gestational age at delivery and birth weight were self-reported. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated to quantify the association between PTB/LBW and maternal mental health. RESULTS: A total of 1265 and 1233 participants were included in the analyses of PTB and LBW, respectively. No associations were observed between PTB and prenatal mental health (depression [aOR 1.01, 95%CI 0.91-1.11], anxiety [aOR 1.04, 95%CI 0.93-1.17], stress [aOR 0.88, 95%CI 0.71-1.10], or hardship [aOR 1.00, 95%CI 0.96-1.04]) after adjusting for potential confounders. The risk of PTB was increased with non-white ethnicity/race (aOR 3.85, 95%CI 1.35-11.00), consistent with the literature. Similar findings were observed for LBW (depression [aOR 1.03, 95%CI 0.96-1.13], anxiety [aOR 1.05, 95%CI 0.95-1.17], COVID stress [aOR 0.92, 95%CI 0.77-1.09], or overall hardship [aOR 0.97, 95%CI 0.94-1.01]). CONCLUSION: No association was found between prenatal mental health nor hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk of PTB or LBW. However, it is imperative to continue the follow-up of mothers and their offspring to detect long-term health problems early.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Évaluer l'association entre la santé mentale prénatale pendant la pandémie de COVID-19 et les naissances prématurées (accouchement < 37 semaines de gestation) et les faibles poids à la naissance (< 2 500 g). MéTHODES: Des personnes enceintes de plus de 18 ans ont été recrutées au Canada et ont fourni des données prénatales via un questionnaire en ligne. Nous avons analysé les données des personnes recrutées entre 06/2020 et 08/2021, ayant rempli deux questionnaires dont un pendant la grossesse et un 2 mois post-partum. Les données sur les caractéristiques sociodémographiques maternelles, les comorbidités, l'utilisation de médicaments, la santé mentale (Échelle de dépression postnatale d'Édimbourg [EPDS], trouble anxieux généralisé-7 [GAD-7], stress), les difficultés liées à la pandémie (CONCEPTION­Évaluation du stress lié à la COVID-19) ainsi que l'âge gestationnel à l'accouchement et le poids à la naissance ont été auto-déclarées. Les rapports de cotes bruts et ajustés (aRC) avec un intervalle de confiance à 95% (IC 95%) ont été calculés pour quantifier l'association entre la prématurité/petit poids à la naissance et la santé mentale maternelle. RéSULTATS: Un total de 1 265 et 1 233 participants ont été inclus dans les analyses de NP et de FPN, respectivement. Aucune association n'a été observée entre la prématurité et la santé mentale prénatale (dépression [aRC 1,01, IC 95% 0,91­1,11], anxiété [aOR 1,04, IC 95% 0,93­1,17], stress [aRC 0,88, IC 95% 0,71­1,10], ni difficultés liées à la COVID-19 [aOR 1,00, IC 95% 0,96­1,04]) après ajustement pour les facteurs de confusion potentiels. Le risque de prématurité était plus élevé chez les personnes d'ethnie/race non blanche (aRC 3,85, IC 95% 1,35­11,00), en accord avec la littérature. Des résultats similaires ont été observés pour le faible poids à la naissance (dépression [aRC 1,03, IC 95% 0,96­1,13], anxiété [aRC 1,05, IC 95% 0,95­1,17], stress lié à la COVID [aRC 0,92, IC 95% 0,77­1,09], ou difficultés en lien avec la COVID-19 [aRC 0,97, IC 95% 0,94­1,01]). CONCLUSION: Aucune association n'a été trouvée entre la santé mentale prénatale ni les difficultés pendant la pandémie de COVID-19 et le risque de prématurité ou de petit poids à la naissance. Cependant, il est impératif de poursuivre le suivi des mères et de leurs enfants pour détecter précocement d'éventuels problèmes de santé à long terme.

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The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health has been described in Canada and China but no study has compared the two countries using the same standardized and validated instruments. In this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the impact of COVID-19 public health policies on maternal mental health between Canada and China, as we hypothesize that geographical factors and different COVID-19 policies are likely to influence maternal mental health. Pregnant persons >18 years old were recruited in Canada and China using a web-based strategy. All participants recruited between 26 June 2020 and 16 February 2021 were analyzed. Self-reported data included sociodemographic variables, COVID-19 experience and maternal mental health assessments (Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD-7) scale, stress and satisfaction with life). Analyses were stratified by recruitment cohort, namely: Canada 1 (26 June 2020-10 October 2020), Canada 2 and China (11 October 2020-16 February 2021). Overall, 2423 participants were recruited, with 1804 participants within Canada 1, 135 within Canada 2 and 484 in China. The mean EDPS scores were 8.1 (SD, 5.1) in Canada 1, 8.1 (SD, 5.2) in Canada 2 and 7.7 (SD, 4.9) in China (p-value Canada 2/China: p = 0.005). The mean GAD-7 scores were 2.6 (SD, 2.9) in China, 4.3 (SD, 3.8) in Canada 1 (p < 0.001) and 5.8 (SD, 5.2) in Canada 2 (p < 0.001). When adjusting for stress and anxiety, being part of the Chinese cohort significantly increased the chances of having maternal depression by over threefold (adjusted OR 3.20, 95%CI 1.77-5.78). Canadian and Chinese participants reported depressive scores nearly double those of other crises and non-pandemic periods. Lockdowns and reopening periods have an important impact on levels of depression and anxiety among pregnant persons.

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Introduction: We aimed to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health, stratifying on pregnancy status, trimester of gestation, and pandemic period/wave. Methods: Pregnant persons and persons who delivered in Canada during the pandemic, >18 years, were recruited, and data were collected using a web-based strategy. The current analysis includes data on persons enrolled between 06/2020−08/2021. Maternal sociodemographic indicators, mental health measures (Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD-7), stress) were self-reported. Maternal mental health in pregnant women (stratified by trimester, and pandemic period/wave at recruitment) was compared with the mental health of women who had delivered; determinants of severe depression were identified with multivariate logistic regression models. Results: 2574 persons were pregnant and 626 had already delivered at recruitment. Participants who had delivered had significantly higher mean depressive symptom scores compared to those pregnant at recruitment (9.1 (SD, 5.7) vs. 8.4 (SD, 5.3), p = 0.009). Maternal anxiety (aOR 1.51; 95%CI 1.44−1.59) and stress (aOR 1.35; 95%CI 1.24−1.48) were the most significant predictors of severe maternal depression (EDPS ˃ 13) in pregnancy. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on maternal depression during pregnancy and in the post-partum period. Given that gestational depression/anxiety/stress has been associated with preterm birth and childhood cognitive problems, it is essential to continue following women/children, and develop strategies to reduce COVID-19's longer-term impact.

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