Aim: This study aimed to assess COVID-19 risk perception of pregnant women and its
relationship with their protective behaviors. Methods: A descriptive-correlational design
was used to conduct this study at an obstetric and gynecologic center at Mansoura University
Hospitals, Egypt, involving 233 pregnant women, who were selected using the convenient
sample technique. A self-administrated structured questionnaire was used to assess women's
demographic characteristics, obstetrics history, COVID-19-related risk perception, and
protective behaviors. Results: The age of the pregnant women ranged from 18- to 35 years
with a mean of 27.3 ± 5.0 years and nearly half (46.4%) of them were in their third trimester.
Social media were a major source of COVID-19-related information (57.1%). Among the
pregnant women included in this study, 37.8% were in contact with COVID-19 positive
patients. Meanwhile, 78.5% had a high level of risk perception related to COVID-19 and
45.1% had a moderate level of protective behaviors. A significant positive correlation was
observed between the risk perception of COVID-19 and the protective behaviors of the
pregnant women under study (r =0.147; P=0.025). Conclusion: Most of pregnant women
had a high level of risk perception and less than half of them had moderate level of protective
behaviors related to COVID-19. The educational level and history of COVID- 19 infection
had a statistical significant predictive effect on protective behaviors against COVID-19. This
study recommended that maternity nurses should establish virtual training classes and
counseling to enhance the protective behaviors among pregnant women against COVID-19