Anxiety in crises…an additional burden on the health of the pregnant woman

A recent psychological study conducted by researchers from international universities, including Waseda University in Japan, Columbia University in the United States, and Seoul National University in Korea, revealed that psychological pressures resulting from public disasters, such as wars and earthquakes, may lead to organic health problems in mothers, which in turn is reflected in the health of the fetuses.

The study, which was published electronically in March and is scheduled to be published in May in the Journal of Health Economics, showed that stress during pregnancy raises the risk of diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and preeclampsia, and stress hormones are transmitted through the placenta to the fetus, which increases the chances of premature birth, low birth weight, and neurodevelopmental disorders.

In their study, the researchers relied on analyzing data from more than one million births, based on the repercussions of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011, to monitor the impact of collective anxiety on pregnant women, even in areas far from immediate danger.

The results showed an increase in premature birth rates by up to 18%, a decrease in average birth weight, in addition to a noticeable increase in cases of severe underweight, as it was found that anxiety related to radiation explains about 80% of this increase.

The study also indicated that negative effects were less among mothers with high education or good income, as a result of the availability of accurate information and better health care.

The researchers stressed the importance of including psychological support in the care of pregnant women during crises, especially in the advanced stages of pregnancy, to reduce long-term effects on the health of the mother and fetus.