Risk perception increase due to COVID-19 impacted antenatal care utilization among women in an indigenous community.

Publication date: Sep 03, 2024

Risk perception varies greatly among individuals, affecting their behavior and decision-making in risky situations. The COVID-19 pandemic affected worldwide, but the role of risk perception related to COVID-19 in ethnic minorities in Mexico is unclear. This study quantifies the impact of COVID-related risk perception (susceptibility and severity) and perceived fear on the utilization of antenatal care services among indigenous women in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. We conducted a retrospective crossover study between June and December 2021, interviewing 98 women from San CristcF3bal de las Casas, Chiapas. In a crossover design, each subject acts as their own control, so we required the participants to have a previous pregnancy experience. A logistic model was used to calculate the odds ratio for the outcome of having an adequate number of antenatal care visits. The analysis considered the period (during or before the pandemic) as well as perceived severity and susceptibility levels as independent variables. COVID-19 reduced antenatal care utilization by 50%. During the pandemic, the adjusted odds ratio for attending health antenatal care services was 0. 83 (95% CI: 4. 8, 14. 5) compared to pre pandemics. Adjusted for fear of contagion, the mother’s perception of severity was associated with an increased likelihood of an insufficient number of antenatal visits. OR = 0. 25 (95% CI: 0. 10, 0. 65). The risk perception for COVID-19 decreased the likelihood of receiving an adequate number of antenatal care visits.

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Concepts Keywords
Childbirth Adult
December COVID-19
Mexico COVID-19
Risky Cross-Over Studies
Fear
Female
Humans
Indigenous
Indigenous Peoples
Mexico
Mexico
Perception
Pregnancy
Prenatal Care
Retrospective Studies
Risk Assessment
Risk perception
SARS-CoV-2
Women
Young Adult

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH COVID-19
disease IDO role
disease IDO susceptibility
pathway REACTOME Reproduction
disease MESH anxiety
disease IDO process
disease MESH birth defects
disease MESH microcephaly
disease MESH pregnancy outcomes
disease IDO quality
disease MESH maternal deaths
drug DRUGBANK Ilex paraguariensis leaf
disease MESH premature labor
disease MESH Marital status

Original Article

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