Zika virus and pregnant women: A psychological approach.
Zika virus presents risk of physical harm to pregnant women, but the fear of infection is also affecting women around the world. There is a gap in the research on Zika virus in the areas involving the impact on the psychosocial well-being of pregnant women. Therefore, this study is aimed at the investigation of the psychosocial adjustment of pregnant women to the risks of Zika virus infection during pregnancy. We investigated 14 pregnant women who were classified in three different groups: six in the first trimester, five in the second trimester and three in the third trimester, aged from 28 to 40 years (33.43 ± 3.76 years). Content analysis was used to interpret data. Our results show that the psychosocial adjustment of participants was significantly negative and included five aspects: (1) negative feelings, (2) changes in family planning, (3) adopting new customs (avoiding places of risk, use of specific clothes and use of repellent), (4) changed attitudes regarding body image and (5) feeling of external demand regarding prevention. The fear of Zika virus infection and all its associated risks have a negative biopsychosocial impact on the pregnant women in this study.
a Psychology Post-Graduation Program , Federal University of Juiz de Fora , Juiz de Fora , Brazil.
Juliana Fernandes
JF
Filgueiras Meireles
a Psychology Post-Graduation Program , Federal University of Juiz de Fora , Juiz de Fora , Brazil.
Clara Mockdece
CM
Neves
b Faculty of Physical Education , Rural Federal University of Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , Brazil.
Fabiane Frota da Rocha
FFDR
Morgado
a Psychology Post-Graduation Program , Federal University of Juiz de Fora , Juiz de Fora , Brazil.
Maria Elisa
ME
Caputo Ferreira
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D000066498:Emotional Adjustment; D004644:Emotions; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000523:psychology*; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012306:Risk; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000523:psychology*
Zika virus; fetus; microcephaly; pregnancy; transmission; wellbeing