The lived experience of stress for parents in the context of COVID-19–related disruption

Objective: This mixed methods study sought to explore the lived experience of stress for parents of young dependent children during COVID-19 lockdowns in Australia. Background: Public health restrictions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately burdened parents as they balanced novel and competing role demands. Despite growing research on impacts to parent mental health, much less is known about parenting at the experiential level during this period. Method: Data were derived from free-text survey responses collected during 2020 in an Australian population cohort study and analyzed in a mixed methods approach focusing on descriptive phenomenology. Twenty-eight parent accounts of either ‘extreme' or ‘minimal' stress experiences were subject to phenomenological analysis of the individual, interpersonal, and contextual factors associated with each stress category. Results: Three themes defined ‘extreme' stress experiences: inadequacy of resources to cope, perceived lack of control, and compounding stressors. Two themes characterized ‘minimal' stress experiences: feeling well resourced to cope and the absence of significant disruption to everyday life. Conclusion: Findings highlight three targets in particular: compounding stressors, family relationships, and gendered differences in parental stress. Implications: Intervention efforts should focus on better resourcing parents experiencing accumulating stressors through provision of individual and relational support and by addressing the higher burden experienced by mothers compared with fathers across pandemic related lockdowns. © 2023 The Authors. Family Relations published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of National Council on Family Relations.

Psychological adaptation of recovered individuals with COVID-19: A phenomenological approach

Introduction: Healthcare services are primarily focusing on medical and physical treatment of COVID-19 while psychosocial and mental health needs are not considered a priority. Objective(s): The purpose of this study was to explore how recovered individuals with COVID-19 adapted to their psychological and social stressors during infection period. Method(s): A descriptive phenomenological approach conducted using a purposeful sample of 13 individuals recovered from COVID-19 in Jordan. Data collected using unstructured interviews. Result(s): Perception of being diagnosed with COVID-19 revealed to three major themes;positive learning (acceptance, avoiding social pressure, and normalizing), tolerating ambiguity (denial and seeking information and guidance), and resilience (caring family, professionals' support, self-grieving, optimism, positive thinking, and spirituality). Conclusion(s): The study indicates that there is a need to integrate psychosocial and mental health care services into healthcare plans provided to individuals with COVID-19.

Utilisation of HIV services by female sex workers in Zimbabwe during the COVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive phenomenological study.

This study focuses on female sex workers as a key population group that suffers a degree of vulnerability according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Key populations refer to people at heightened risk of contracting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to specific behaviours and social and legal environments which increase their vulnerability to the virus. Key populations are disproportionately affected by HIV, yet they have less access to HIV services compared to the general population. The coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown and its restrictive measures have further widened the inequalities and gaps in accessing HIV services for this group. A descriptive phenomenological study was undertaken to explore female sex workers' experiences of utilisation of HIV services during COVID-19. The study setting was the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Zimbabwe. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews with 10 female sex workers. Purposive sampling coupled with snowballing was utilised for recruiting participants. Data were analysed guided by the seven-step Colaizzi technique. Rigour was ensured through adhering to Lincoln and Guba's trustworthiness criteria. The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the livelihoods of sex workers and their utilisation of HIV services. There was limited access to HIV services due to an initial lack of travel authorisation letters and financial challenges experienced by study participants. In addition, the quality of care in health care facilities was further compromised by poor screening processes and reduced provider-client interactions. Maintaining access to HIV services for female sex workers during pandemics is critical for the country to attain HIV epidemic control.

How do you expect us to survive? Lamentation of female sex workers in Zimbabwe during COVID-19 lockdown

The restrictive measures taken to curb and mitigate the spread of the corona virus (COVID-19) had negative implications on the vulnerable populations. Of the latter, the most severely affected were sex workers, whose work venues and customers were locked down. This descriptive phenomenological study explored effects of COVID-19 on female sex workers in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Snowballing sampling was used to recruit participants. Data were collected through in-depth face-to-face individual interviews with ten female sex workers. The sample size was determined by data saturation. Colaizzi's seven-step content analysis approach was followed to guide data analysis. Rigour was ensured by adhering to Guba and Lincoln's trustworthiness criteria. The study found that the measures impacted negatively on sex workers' income, making it difficult for them to get money for food and rentals. In response, some sex workers adopted innovative entrepreneurship. Others engaged in risky sexual behaviours, further aggravating their situation emotionally and psychologically. It is recommended that the government and policy makers provide psychosocial and economic support to protect the rights of female sex workers in order to maintain the gains made in HIV response.

The Experience of Nurses Who were Isolated due to COVID-19 Infection: A Qualitative Study

Background: In their duties, health care workers, especially nurses, have a high risk of being infected with COVID-19 both from patients and non-patients. Some nurses who are infected need to be treated and isolated in the hospital. It is important to understand nurses experiences during isolation as this could change the way they provide nursing care for COVID-19 patients in the future. However, this topic has not been studied in Indonesia. Purpose: This study aimed to explore the experience of nurses who were isolated in the hospital due to COVID-19 infection. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using a descriptive phenomenological approach. The participants were nurses who had been hospitalized in an isolation room, selected through purposive sampling. Data saturation was reached on the 7th participant, and a total of 7 nurses who were infected with COVID-19 participated. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi s phenomenological method. Results: Data analysis resulted in three main themes: (1) Experience at diagnosis (Pre-isolation), with sub-Themes: initial reaction, source/origin of infection, early symptoms, and reactions from family and close people;(2) Experiences during isolation, with sub-Themes: Feelings in isolation rooms, body reactions to covid-19 therapy, medical response and swab results;and (3) Post-isolation experiences, with sub-Themes: post-covid conditions, expectations for other covid patients, and expectations for medical personnel. Conclusion: This study identified nurses experience of COVID-19 pre-isolation, isolation and post-isolation. Support from family members, colleagues and leaders are essential for their healing process. Appropriate care planning and approaches are expected to support nurses infected with COVID-19. © 2022 Diponegoro University- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine. All rights reserved.