Publication date: Mar 24, 2025

The psychiatric impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are well-documented; however, its effects during the postnatal period have been less explored. We aimed to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on mother-infant attachment and postnatal depression in pregnant women during the pandemic. The study group consisted of women with the diagnosis of ‘pregnancy and COVID-19’ after the 20th gestational week (n = 55). The control group included women who did not have a history of COVID-19 in their pregnancy or until the study date (n = 52). Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and Postpartum Attachment Scale (PPAS) were administered to the participants. COVID-19 patients were grouped according to the WHO classification. The mean EPDS score was higher in the study group than in the control group (9. 55 (7. 17) vs. 6. 65 (6. 72) (P = 0. 006)). There was no difference between the groups in the number of individuals with depression (EPDS score > 13) and PPAS factors. The mean EPDS score was found to be higher in the hospitalized group (P = 0. 025). The mean EPDS score in the group with moderate or severe disease was higher than mild disease group (16 (8. 49) vs. 8. 67 (6. 57) (P = 0. 039)), there was no difference in terms of PPAS. While the presence of COVID-19 during pregnancy has been associated with elevated postpartum depression scores in pandemic pregnant women, hospitalization of women who had COVID-19 during pregnancy and had at least one family member with moderate or more severe illness resulted in higher depression scores. The presence of COVID-19 during pregnancy does not affect mother-infant attachment. It is recommended that women with a history of COVID-19 during pregnancy be evaluated more carefully for postpartum depression.

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