Comparison of Sleep Disturbances Among Women with and without a History of COVID-19 Infection

Objective: This study was conducted to compare sleep disturbances between women with and without a history of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, the "Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index" was used to evaluate sleep problems. The research sample was calculated as 120: 1. group 60 (with a history of COVID-19) and 2. group 60 (without a history of COVID-19) using the G*Power 3.1 method. A total of 141 women were interviewed in case of data loss. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the forms were filled in via google form in the social media environment. The data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences for the Windows 22.0 program.Results: The mean age of the women involved in the study was 22.241 +/- 6.593 (min: 18, max: 58). Women with a history of COVID-19 experience occasional sleep problems several times a week and have difficulty falling asleep. Statistically significant differences were found between the sleep quality of women with and without a history of COVID-19. Subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, habitual sleep efficiency, use of sleeping medication, daytime dysfunction, and total sleep quality scores were found to be higher in women with a history of COVID-19.Conclusion: Sleep quality is lower in women with a history of COVID-19. During the COVID-19 pandemic, sleep quality should be evaluated, and sleep problems should be identified and treated within a short period. It is recommended to develop methods of coping with anxiety and stress experienced, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and to raise awareness on this issue among people with a COVID-19 history.