Abstract:
Background: Women’s ability to get sleep can be affected by pregnancy-related
hormonal changes or other external stressful situations like the coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19).
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the proportion of poor sleep quality
during the COVID-19 pandemic and its determinants among pregnant women attending
antenatal care (ANC) services.
Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 423
women attending ANC services at the health facilities in Debre Berhan Town, Ethiopia,
from May to June 2020. A systematic random sampling technique was used to
select the required samples. The tool consisted of questions that assessed (1) sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric and health care service-related characteristics;
and media exposure to get information regarding COVID-19 infection; (2) To assess
sleep quality; the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was applied. And a global score
of >5 indicates poor sleep quality, and a global score of ≤5 indicates good sleep quality.
Result: The overall prevalence of poor sleep quality was 62.8%, and was associated
with pregnant women aged ≥46 years (AOR = 4.27), being in the third trimester
(AOR = 2.51), being multigravida (AOR = 2.72), and having co-morbidity (AOR = 3.57).
Conclusion: The prevalence of poor sleep quality among pregnant women during the
pandemic was found to be high. Advanced maternal age, third trimester pregnancy,
being multigravida, and having comorbidity were determinants of poor sleep quality
among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords: COVID-19, sleep quality, women, Ethiopia, pregnancy
