The effect of an educational intervention based on the PRECEDE Model on anxiety caused by Covid-19 in pregnant mothers

BACKGROUND: Some pregnant mothers do not perform periodical examinations due to anxiety about the risk of contracting the epidemic of COVID-19 so they may face serious complications for themselves and the health of the fetus. Therefore, the researchers decided to design and implement a study with the aim of “determining the effect of an educational intervention based on the PRECEDE model on the anxiety caused by COVID-19 in pregnant mothers”. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized semiexperimental study, 84 pregnant mothers covered by comprehensive health centers in West Tehran, during the year 2021, were randomly selected, then assigned to two groups (control group (42 people) and intervention group (42 people)). After the pretest, four sessions of 90 minutes, two sessions per week, were held individually for the intervention group based on the PRECEDE model. The anxiety of pregnant mothers in two groups was evaluated 2 weeks after the training, with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Data were analyzed with SPSS21 software and independent t, paired t, Fisher’s exact, and Chi-square statistical tests. In all tests, a significance level of P ≤ .05 was considered. RESULTS: Before the intervention, the two groups had no statistically significant difference in terms of demographic characteristics of the PRECEDE model ( P < .05). However, 2 weeks after the intervention, there was a statistically significant difference in the anxiety latent (trait) anxiety and manifest (state) anxiety scores between the control group and the intervention group ( P < .001). The PRECEDE model significantly reduced the anxiety latent (trait) anxiety and manifest (state) anxiety in the intervention group. CONCLUSION: It is recommended to hold educational classes based on the PRECEDE model, a low-cost and accessible method, to reduce the anxiety of pregnant women during epidemics, such as COVID-19, and to increase the number of visits to comprehensive health centers for routine pregnancy care.