Domestic violence and unstable living conditions increased for pregnant individuals during the pandemic

The article discusses a study which investigated the association between the living conditions of pregnant individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic conducted by L.A. Avalos, et al., published in a 2023 issue of "JAMA Network Open." Medical records of women who were pregnant and in unstable and unsafe living conditions were examined. They found that the study participants experienced a rise in unstable living situations and partner violence.

Birth under restrictions: Exploring women's experiences of maternity care in Aotearoa New Zealand during the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020

Introduction: In Aotearoa New Zealand the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 resulted in a four-week lockdown in March and April of 2020 with ongoing restrictions for several weeks. Aim: To explore the experiences of women who were pregnant, giving birth and/or managing the early weeks of motherhood during the 2020 COVID-19 alert levels 3 and 4 in Aotearoa New Zealand. Method: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to explore childbirth experiences during the COVID-19 alert level restrictions. Reflexive, inductive, thematic analysis was used to identify codes, subthemes and themes. Findings: Seventeen women participated in the study. Analysis of the qualitative interviews revealed four themes. The first of these was: Relationship with my midwife, in which participants described the importance of the midwifery continuity of care relationship, with midwives often going above and beyond usual care and filling the gaps in service provision. In the Disruption to care theme the participants described feeling anxious and uncertain, with concerns about the hospital restrictions and changing rules. The participants also described their Isolation during postnatal care in a maternity facility due to separation from their partners/whānau;they describe receiving the bare necessities of care, feeling they were on their own, and working towards their release home;all of which took an emotional and mental toll. The final theme, Undisturbed space, describes the positive aspects of the lockdown of being undisturbed by visitors, being better able to bond with the baby and being able to breastfeed in peace. Conclusion: Midwifery continuity of care appears to have supported these women and their families/ whānau during the service restrictions caused by the COVID-19 lockdown. The partner, or other primary support person, and whānau should be considered essential support and should not be excluded from early postpartum hospital care.

Self-Care Performance of Pregnant Women in Preventing COVID-19 Infection and Its Relationship with Perceived Stress

Objective: To determine the status of self-care performance of pregnant women in the prevention of COVID-19 disease and its relationship with perceived stress during the epidemic period of this disease. Method: This cross-sectional study was performed on 228 pregnant women who referred to the health centers in Tabriz, Iran, for prenatal care. They were selected by cluster sampling. Data collection tools included questionnaires about Demographic-Social Characteristics, the Self-Care Performance Questionnaire and Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale. Spearman correlation test was used to examine the correlation between self-care performance and perceived stress in bivariate and multivariate analyses. Also, multivariate linear regression was used, with control of demographic-social and obstetric characteristics as possible confounders. Results: The median (25-75 percentiles) self-care performance score of participants was 0.71 (0.65-0.76), from the achievable range of 20-80, and its mean (± SD) perceived stress score was 25.5 (± 5.6), from the achievable range of 0- 56. The Spearman's rank correlation test results showed a significant inverse correlation between perceived stress and self-care performance scores (r = -0.13;P = 0.041). According to multivariate linear regression test, the variables of selfcare performance, education, spouse's education and number of family members were the predictors of perceived stress in pregnant women during the COVID-19 epidemic. Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, self-care performance of pregnant women in prevention of the COVID-19 disease was good and their stress was moderate. There was a significant inverse correlation between self - care performance and perceived stress that could indicate the high value and importance of the fetus for the mother and her strict adherence to health protocols to prevent COVID-19, which also leads to calming and reduced perceived stress.

孕妇维生素 D 水平的影响因素分析

Objective：To analyze the influencing factors of vitamin D in pregnant women in three stages of pre⁃outbreak，post⁃outbreak and normalization of COVID ⁃19 pandemic. Methods：The pregnant women who received prenatal examination in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from May 2018 to May 2021 were selected as the research objects to detect vitamin D level，and analyze the effects of different pregnancy methods，delivery methods，age，gestational age，parity，number of parities and season on vitamin D level. Results：Totally 1 679 pregnant women were involved，the level of serum 25（OH）D in pregnant women was 18. 70（ 12. 60，27. 20）ng/mL. The rate of vitamin D deficiency was 24. 41%，51. 01% and 34. 23% of three stages of pre⁃outbreak，post⁃outbreak and normalization of COVID ⁃ 19 pandemic，the difference was statistically significant（P<0. 001）. Orderly multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that early pregnancy［ OR=0. 359，95%CI（0. 257，0. 502）］，maternal age <35 years old［ OR=0. 766，95%CI（0. 598，0. 980）］，winter ［OR=0. 388，95%CI（0. 290，0. 520）］，spring［OR=0. 350，95%CI（0. 258，0. 475）］ and summer ［OR=1. 533，95%CI（1. 166， 2. 014）］ had an effect on vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women. Conclusion：The rate of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women is high. Pregnancy，season and age are independent influencing factors of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women. After the normaliza⁃ tion of COVID⁃19 pandemic，pregnant women should supplement vitamins scientifically and individually，strengthen the education of nutrition during pregnancy，and regularly monitor the level of vitamin D. 目的:分析新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情前、疫情暴发到疫情常态化3 个阶段孕妇维生素D 水平及其影响因素。方法:选取2 0 1 8 年 5 月--2021 年5 月在山西医科大学第一医院产检的孕妇作为研究对象，检测维生素D 水平，分析不同怀孕方式、分娩方式、年龄、孕 周、胎次、胎数、季节等对维生素D 水平的影响。结果:共纳入1 679 例孕妇，血清25（OH）D 水平为18. 70（12. 60，27. 20）ng/mL。疫 情前维生素D 缺乏率为24. 41%，疫情暴发期间维生素D 缺乏率为51. 01%，疫情常态化后维生素D 缺乏率为34. 23%，差异有统计 学意义（P<0. 001）;有序多分类Logistic 回归分析显示，孕早期［OR=0. 359，95%CI（0. 257，0. 502）］、孕妇年龄<35 岁［OR= 0. 766，95%CI（0. 598，0. 980）］、冬季［OR=0. 388，95%CI（0. 290，0. 520）］、春季［OR=0. 350，95%CI（0. 258，0. 475）］及夏季［OR= 1. 533，95%CI（1. 166，2. 014）］对孕妇维生素D 缺乏有影响。结论:孕妇维生素D 缺乏率较高，孕期、季节、年龄是孕妇维生素D 缺乏 的独立影响因素。提示孕妇应科学、个性化地补充维生素，加强孕期营养，定期监测维生素D 水平.

Self-Care Performance of Pregnant Women in Preventing COVID-19 Infection and Its Relationship with Perceived Stress

Objective: To determine the status of self-care performance of pregnant women in the prevention of COVID-19 disease and its relationship with perceived stress during the epidemic period of this disease. Method: This cross-sectional study was performed on 228 pregnant women who referred to the health centers in Tabriz, Iran, for prenatal care. They were selected by cluster sampling. Data collection tools included questionnaires about Demographic-Social Characteristics, the Self-Care Performance Questionnaire and Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale. Spearman correlation test was used to examine the correlation between self-care performance and perceived stress in bivariate and multivariate analyses. Also, multivariate linear regression was used, with control of demographic-social and obstetric characteristics as possible confounders. Results: The median (25-75 percentiles) self-care performance score of participants was 0.71 (0.65-0.76), from the achievable range of 20-80, and its mean (± SD) perceived stress score was 25.5 (± 5.6), from the achievable range of 0- 56. The Spearman's rank correlation test results showed a significant inverse correlation between perceived stress and self-care performance scores (r = -0.13;P = 0.041). According to multivariate linear regression test, the variables of selfcare performance, education, spouse's education and number of family members were the predictors of perceived stress in pregnant women during the COVID-19 epidemic. Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, self-care performance of pregnant women in prevention of the COVID-19 disease was good and their stress was moderate. There was a significant inverse correlation between self - care performance and perceived stress that could indicate the high value and importance of the fetus for the mother and her strict adherence to health protocols to prevent COVID-19, which also leads to calming and reduced perceived stress.

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Structural analysis of the health literacy facet access to information on general health, COVID-19 infection prevention, and early childhood allergy prevention in pregnant women and mothers of infants: Psychometric characteristics of the access items in the European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU-Q47)

(German) Die Gesundheitskompetenz- (GK) Facette Zugang zu Gesundheitsinformationen wird durch 12 Items im European Health Literacy Survey (HLS-EU-Q47) gemessen. Zusatzlich zu den Originalitems zur allgemeinen Gesundheit (AG) wurden Itemformulierungen zur COVID-19-Infektionspravention (COVID-19-IP) und fruhkindlichen Allergiepravention (FKAP) adaptiert. N = 343 (werdende) Mutter von Kleinkindern beantworteten die Items in einem Online-Assessment. Mittels des WLSMV-Algorithmus wurden konfirmatorische Strukturanalysen durchgefuhrt. Die Itemmittelwerte variierten deutlich zwischen AG, COVID-19-IP und FKAP (eta2 = .017-.552). Bifaktor-Modelle wiesen die beste Datenanpassung auf (AG/COVID-19-IP/FKAP: CFI = .964/ .968/ .977;SRMR: .062 / .069/ .035). Der Generalfaktor Zugang determiniert die Iteminformationen am starksten. Fur GH und COVID-19-IP erwiesen sich die drei Subfaktoren Gesundheitsversorgung, individuelle Pravention und offentliche Dienstleistungen als valide;fur FKAP Akutversorgung, Unterstutzungsleistungen zur Pravention und Praventionsmasnahmen. Die Unterschiede zwischen GH, COVID-19-IP und FKAP deuten darauf hin, dass die Angaben zum Zugang zu Informationen imHLS-EU nicht nur die Suchkompetenz der (werdenden) Mutter widerspiegeln, sondern auch die Verfugbarkeit bzw. Auffindbarkeit der Gesundheitsinformationen. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH - PART 1

The perinatal period is a high risk for onset and relapse of mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic is a particularly stressful occurrence with reported negative impacts on perinatal mental health, hence the need to understand these impacts on pregnant and post-partum childbearing women and people, and prioritise interventions to alleviate them. This is the first of two articles.

Motherhood in the Time of Coronavirus: The Impact of the Pandemic Emergency on Expectant and Postpartum Women's Psychological Well-Being.

The birth of a child is a critical and potentially stressful experience for women, entailing several changes both at the individual and interpersonal level. This event can lead to different forms of distress, ranging in intensity and duration. Many studies highlighted medical, psychological, and social variables as risk factors potentially influencing the onset or aggravation of perinatal maternal conditions. The current pandemic emergency and the restrictive measures adopted by local governments to prevent the spread of the coronavirus infection may negatively affect mothers-to-be and new mothers potentially increasing the likelihood of anxiety, depressive or post-traumatic symptoms to develop. Moreover, the forced quarantine combined with the limited access to professional or family support may increase feelings of fatigue and isolation. The present study aims to investigate women's psychological well-being during pregnancy and in the first months after childbirth, integrating the evaluation of some traditionally studied variables with the specificities of the current situation. 575 Italian women have been administered an online self-report questionnaire assessing the presence of anxiety disorders, depressive and post-traumatic symptoms as well as the expectations toward childbirth (for mothers-to-be) or the subjective experience of childbirth (for postpartum women). Findings revealed a higher percentage of women than that reported in the literature scored above the clinical cut-off both during pregnancy and postpartum on a series of measures of psychological well-being, thus demonstrating that this period was perceived as particularly challenging and stressful and had significant impact on the women's well-being. Moreover, some socio-demographic, medical, and pandemic-related variables, especially the lack of presence and support from one's partner during labor and delivery as well as in the first days postpartum was found to predict women's mental health. These findings suggest the need for developing specific interventions targeted at women who cannot benefit from the support of their partners or family.

Racial Differences in Attitudes Toward the COVID-19 Vaccine in Pregnant and Postpartum Women...Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) Convention, 25-29 June, 2022, Aurora, Colorado

The article offers information on racial differences in attitudes toward the Covid-19 vaccine in pregnant and postpartum women. It mentions that burden of Covid-19 infections and deaths disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minority communities, including pregnant women. It discusses that Covid-19 vaccines have been approved and recommended for use during pregnancy.

O30 Food Insecurity Rates Among WIC Participants During COVID-19

The WIC program serves low-income, pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under 5. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased food insecurity and reduced access to healthy foods essential during critical periods of growth and development, thereby increasing health disparities. To determine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on food insecurity and food access in an online/virtual nutrition education program conducted in partnership with the WIC Program in Ventura County, CA. Mixed methods were used in a pilot study with adult English- and Spanish-speaking WIC clients (n = 358) utilizing the Family Kitchen online cooking education program to meet their WIC nutrition education requirements. Surveys were self-administered before and after watching an online cooking education video. Descriptive statistics and bivariate relationships including Chi-square analyses were conducted to determine the association between demographic variables (e.g,. age, education, race/ethnicity, income, and language spoken at home) with rates of food insecurity measured using the USDA six-item short-form food security (FS) scale and a question about the impact of COVID-19 on food access. Responses regarding food access were coded for themes and subthemes using thematic analysis. A total of 47.5% of study participants were food insecure (35.5% low FS, 12.1% very low FS) and 36.1% reported difficulty with food access. Older study participants (30+ years) were more food insecure than younger participants (18-29 y) - 51.7% versus 38.8% (P =.05). Spanish-speakers experienced greater difficulty accessing food during the pandemic than English-speakers - 44.1% versus 31.4% (P = 0.02). Major themes identified for these difficulties included fear of leaving the house, lack of food available at local stores, loss of employment, and increased childcare responsibilities. Low-income, Spanish-speakers are particularly at-risk for higher rates of food insecurity and more difficulty accessing food, due in part to minimal resources and fragile work-life relationships. Increasing cooking skills among WIC parents may support better outcomes. and merits further research. Share our Strength/No Kid Hungry.

Prenatal Yoga and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized-Control Trial.

Studies have demonstrated that new and expectant mothers experience increased levels of stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though prenatal yoga is an effective mode of improving mental health during pregnancy, no research has evaluated its effect on mental health during times of extreme stress, such as a global pandemic. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of a single session and a 10-week prenatal yoga intervention on the mental health of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women (n = 19; 28.52 ± 3.74 years; 20.94 ± 4.69 weeks gestation; BMI 29.33 ± 9.08) were randomized into a yoga or a non-yoga control group. There were no differences in demographic factors or depression/anxiety scores between groups at baseline. Baseline levels of anxiety and depression were high, with an average depression score of 8.10 ± 4.85 (scores > 8 represent possible depression) and an average anxiety score of 39.26 ± 12.99 (scores ≥ 39 represent a clinically significant anxiety). After just one session of yoga, women reported feeling less depressed (p = 0.028), tense (p < 0.001), and fatigued (p = 0.004). After 10 weeks, the yoga group had lower anxiety (p = 0.002), depression (p = 0.032), and total mood disturbance (p = 0.002) scores when compared to the control group. Yoga appears to benefit the mental health of expectant mothers, even in times of extreme stress. The findings of this study provide clinicians with valuable information regarding alternative exercise options for mental health during pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pregnancy during a pandemic: How stress affects pregnant women and the development of their babies during COVID-19

Prenatal maternal distress has a negative impact on the course of pregnancy, fetal development, offspring development, and later psychopathologies. The study aimed to understand the guidelines and recommendations related to the prevention and management of the prenatal distress and psychiatric symptomatology of pregnant women during COVID-19 Pandemic. This paper is a review based on information found in specialty literature. The analysis was limited to English language articles and guidelines published between January 1, 2003 and October 14, 2020 on PubMed using the next keywords: perinatal mental health, anxiety, coronavirus disease 2019, depression, mental health, pregnancy, prenatal, post-traumatic stress disorder. In this review we discuss about the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and an uptrend in psychological distress and psychiatric symptomatology in pregnant women. Pregnant women are experiencing substantially elevated anxiety and depression symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic that are in a close relationship to COVID-19 specific problems about threats to their own lives, their baby's health, not getting enough prenatal care, and social isolation. A significant number of studies correlate maternal stress during pregnancy with atypical fetal development, in a way that increases susceptibility to disease and maladaptation in children. Several research groups have used elevated prenatal anxiety as an indicator to suggest prenatal stress, relating to the correlation with cognitive, behavioral, and neurological disorders in children. Protective resilience factors can be social support and physical activity. There is an urgent need to support pregnant women during this critical time to mitigate long-term negative outcomes, given the known effects of stress in pregnancy, infant and child outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Romanian) Stresul matern prenatal are un impact negativ asupra evolutiei sarcinii, dezvoltarii fetale, dezvoltarii copilului si psihopatologiilor ulterioare. Studiul a urmarit sa inteleaga liniile directoare si recomandarile legate de prevenirea si gestionarea stresului prenatal si a simptomatologiei psihiatrice a femeilor insarcinate in timpul pandemiei COVID-19. Aceasta lucrare este o recenzie bazata pe informatiile din literatura de specialitate. Analiza s-a limitat la articolele si ghidurile in limba engleza publicate in perioada 1 ianuarie 2003 - 14 octombrie 2020 pe PubMed folosind urmatoarele cuvinte-cheie: sanatate mintala perinatala, anxietate, boala coronavirus 2019, depresie, sanatate mintala, sarcina, prenatal, tulburare de stres posttraumatica. In aceasta revizuire, discutam despre asocierea dintre pandemia COVID-19 si o tendinta ascendenta a stresului psihologic si a simptomatologiei psihiatrice la femeile gravide. Femeile gravide se confrunta cu simptome crescute de anxietate si depresie in timpul pandemiei COVID-19, care sunt intr-o relatie stransa cu problemele specifice COVID-19 legate de amenintarile la adresa vietii lor, sanatatea bebelusului lor, neacordarea unei ingrijiri prenatale suficiente si izolarea sociala. Un numar insemnat de studii coreleaza stresul matern din timpul sarcinii cu dezvoltarea atipica fetala, intr-o maniera in care creste sensibilitatea la boli si inadaptarea, la copii. Mai multe grupuri de cercetare au folosit nivelul crescut de anxietate prenatala ca indicator pentru a sugera stresul prenatal, raportandu-se la corelatia cu tulburarile cognitive, comportamentale si neurologice la copii. Factorii protectivi, de rezilienta pot fi sprijinul social si activitatea fizica. Exista o nevoie urgenta de a sprijini femeile insarcinate in acest moment critic, pentru a atenua rezultatele negative pe termen lung, avand in vedere efectele cunoscute ale stresului in sarcina, pentru fat si, ulterior, pentru copil. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

THE UTILIZATION OF MATERNAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN SOUTH SULAWESI, INDONESIA

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization of healthcare services for pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Design: An analytical cross-sectional study. Methods: A group of 226 pregnant women completed the study questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed based on the basic health research questionnaire from the Ministry of Health, Indonesia, and the Navigating Pregnancy during the COVID-19 Pandemic article from UNICEF. Results: Of the 226 pregnant women, 122 (54%) had poor knowledge related to COVID-19 and negative attitudes regarding health protocols for COVID-19 (79.6%). Most (n = 189;83.6%) experienced anxiety;however, this did not affect their intention to use healthcare services. Utilization of antenatal care services during the pandemic was associated with antenatal care visiting behavior (p = 0.000) and access to healthcare services (p = 0.000). The most significant predictor of utilization of antenatal care services during the pandemic was antenatal care visiting behavior (p = 0.002;OR = 5.904). Conclusion: These findings provide important information on maternal healthcare provision during the pandemic in Indonesia.