| PHILIPPINES NURSES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. |
JNPARRJNPARR Publications
| JNPARR - Publications - Volume 14 Issue 1 - AbstractPregnant Nurses’ Knowledge and Fear Related to Occupational Exposure to COVID-19Written by Jamille Nagtalon-Ramos, Cynthia Ayres, Thomas Dahan, & Angela Kelly doi: https://doi.org/10.13178/jnparr.2024.14.01.1408 DownloadAbstract Background: Pregnant women who are positive for COVID-19 have a higher risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, preeclampsia, and cesarean delivery. Pregnant nurses working during the pandemic were at a higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 and consequent pregnancy complications.Objectives: This study aims to better understand pregnant nurses’ knowledge and self reported fear related to occupational exposure to COVID-19. Key independent variables assessed included age, occupational setting, gestational age, and presence of other children living at home. Dependent variables assessed included infection control knowledge, and self-reported fear in contracting COVID-19 related to their occupation as a nurse and being pregnant. Methods: This study used a quantitative cross-sectional correlational design to investigate pregnant nurses’ knowledge and fear about COVID-19 exposure. A convenience sample of 70 pregnant nurses from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania participated. Results: Regression results for the knowledge scale indicated that nurses in the inpatient setting scored significantly higher on the knowledge scale compared to outpatient colleagues. Results for the fear scale indicated that nurses with children were significantly less fearful of COVID-19. Women in the 35-44 age group scored significantly higher than their younger peers on the fear scale. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a crisis of global proportions. Pregnant nurses were in an extremely vulnerable position especially during the first months of the outbreak when little was known about the spread of the virus, personal protective equipment was widely unavailable, hospitals were short staffed, and therapies and vaccines were not yet developed. |