key: cord-0713264-6mi7msj2 authors: Tajalli, Saleheh; Imani, Asad title: Tokophobia in Iranian women during the COVID-19 pandemic date: 2021-12-13 journal: Int J Reprod Biomed DOI: 10.18502/ijrm.v19i11.9918 sha: 0783b4eb208d887038820e29992b2e06179fe06d doc_id: 713264 cord_uid: 6mi7msj2 nan One of the most remarkable concerns related to pregnant women is tokophobia. This is a pathological fear of pregnancy and can lead to avoidance of childbirth (15) . Recently it was concluded that women's expectations and concerns about childbirth changed during the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic (10). In Iranian pregnant women, some health behavioral changes have been seen, according to our clinical experiences and field observations, which can lead to tokophobia, such as avoiding going to health centers to obtain maternity care services, choosing private hospitals instead of governmental hospitals for delivery (with these women assuming that Designating special health centers for pregnant women in each province, which are separated from COVID-19 screening centers Determining special wards in the maternal hospitals for women suspected of being infected with COVID-19 Prioritizing pregnant women, as a vulnerable population, for COVID-19 screening tests and vaccination Assessing anxiety and distress in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic Focusing on the cultural and/or ethnic minorities of pregnant women during the COVID-19 crisis Considering specific social media for psychological and clinical education of pregnant women and their partners Educating, consulting, and following pregnant women and their partners using telemedicine and telenursing due to the reduction in face-to-face contact Focusing on pregnant women as a high-risk group in vaccination programs. who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2): An update Case-fatality rate and characteristics of patients dying in relation to COVID-19 in Italy Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and pregnancy: What obstetricians need to know Potential maternal and infant outcomes from (Wuhan) coronavirus 2019-nCoV infecting pregnant women: Lessons from SARS, MERS, and other human coronavirus infections Pneumonia and pregnancy outcomes: A nationwide population-based study ISUOG interim guidance on 2019 novel coronavirus infection during pregnancy and puerperium: Information for healthcare professionals Biological and psychosocial predictors of anxiety worsening in the postpartum period: A longitudinal study Coronavirus disease 2019 infection among asymptomatic and symptomatic pregnant women: Two weeks of confirmed presentations to an affiliated pair of New York City hospitals Pregnant women voice their concerns and birth expectations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy Distress and anxiety associated with COVID-19 among Jewish and Arab pregnant women in Israel Public health measures to slow community spread of coronavirus disease 2019 Life in the pandemic: Social isolation and mental health Mental health effects of COVID-19 pandemic: A review of clinical and psychological traits Tokophobia (fear of childbirth): Prevalence and risk factors Nothing to declare.