The role of social transfers in mitigating families with children from the economic impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic

In this study, we investigated the household income of families with children. Our specific interest was the earned income losses during the COVID‐19 pandemic, and how social transfers have mitigated those losses. We assessed the monthly income levels by comparing the information on the year prior to pandemic to income levels during COVID‐19 pandemic. We found that the pandemic affected all studied subgroups of families with children, with the most negative economic influence in May 2020. In addition, our results indicate that in Finland the social transfers protected fairly well against the negative economic impacts of the pandemic among families with children, especially among vulnerable families (those with lowest income level prior COVID‐19, with low parental education, single‐parent families and families with non‐Finnish‐born parents). The information gained from this analysis can be useful in economic recovery during and after COVID‐19 pandemic, and when preparing for future challenges. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of International Journal of Social Welfare is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

The Impact of the Pandemic on Single Parents and their Need for Informal Support

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the work, personal, and family lives of all Czechs. In this regard, single parents are one of the most vulnerable groups. They are very frequent recipients of external support, provided by the state or by grandparents. Government restrictions, accompanied by, among other things, reduced availability of institutional childcare services, have significantly increased parents' demand for informal childcare. However, grandparents have not been able to fully satisfy this demand. Within the proposed typology, the so-called risk group of single parents who did not receive the required childcare support concerning school preparation or free time, as well financial or material help, was identified. The size of this group grew during the pandemic. According to regression analysis, parents of preschool and younger school children, working in precarious forms of work, in a low-income situation, and/ or in rental housing, were at higher risk of falling into the group of single parents who need informal support. © 2022 Masaryk University. All rights reserved.

Government emergency aid and perceived financial security in COVID-19: evidence from a sample of vulnerable women in Brazil

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine if public policy satisfaction is related with perceived financial security. The public policy examined is an emergency income policy in Brazil.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a questionnaire to interview a random sample of 235 single-parent women who received Emergency Aid (EA) resources in Brazil during the pandemic. The questionnaire included measures of financial security, financial anxiety, financial resilience and profile aspects. The authors applied a multiple regression approach to identify the determinants of financial security during the pandemic.FindingsOur findings show that factors such as satisfaction with the emerging income policy and financial resilience are positively related to perceived financial security. Financial anxiety, financial fragility and job loss in the pandemic are negatively related with perceived financial security.Research limitations/implicationsWhile our results correspond to a random probabilistic sample of women residing in southern Brazil, they may not be generalizable to Brazil as a whole.Practical implicationsThis study provides evidence of the financial situation in the pandemic for the lives of economically vulnerable women. The research encourages government and financial institutions to understand the unique challenges faced by vulnerable populations during the pandemic and analyzes the direct results of EA. The study contributes to the establishment of policies to support vulnerable populations, encouraging security and financial resilience.Originality/valueThis research is innovative in its analysis of women's financial situations during the pandemic, taking into consideration both behavioral aspects and profiles. Our focus on a specific case of emergency income policy adds to the understanding of the relation of such policies on vulnerable populations.

The effects of virtual logotherapy on health-promoting lifestyle among single-parent adolescent girls during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a randomized clinical trial.

Single-parent adolescents are vulnerable individuals and it is necessary to improve their health, particularly during epidemics. This study aimed to investigate the effects of virtual logotherapy (VL) on health-promoting lifestyle (HPL) among single-parent adolescent girls during the COVID-19 pandemic. This single-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 88 single-parent adolescent girls recruited from the support organization for vulnerable individuals in Tehran, Iran. They were randomly allocated to a control and an intervention group through block randomization. Participants in the intervention group received VL in three-five person groups in 90 min biweekly sessions. The Adolescent Health Promotion Short-Form was used to assess HPL. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software (v. 26.0) and through the independent-sample t, Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Mann-Whitney U tests. There was no significant difference between the intervention and the control groups respecting the pretest mean score of HPL (73.58±16.74 vs. 72.80±9.30; P=0.085). However, the posttest mean score of HPL in the intervention group (82 with an interquartile range of 78-90) was significantly more than the control group (71.50 with an interquartile range of 63.25-84.50) (P=0.001). Moreover, after adjusting the effects of the significant between-group differences respecting pretest mean scores, the pretest-posttest differences of the mean scores of HPL and all its dimensions in the intervention group were significantly more than the control group (P<0.05). VL is effective in significantly improving HPL among single-parent adolescent girls. Healthcare authorities are recommended to use VL for health promotion among single-parent adolescents.Trial registrationThis research was registered (17/05/2020) in the www.thaiclinicaltrials.org with registration number: TCTR20200517001.

The Impact Of COVID-19 Lockdown on Parents Handling Children with Disability in Chennai, India

Introduction: Millions around the globe were directly or indirectly affected by COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 epidemic has harmed the lives of children with special needs in many ways, whether directly or in-directly. Few studies have evaluated the Impact of covid-19 lockdown among children with disability. Howev-er, the Impact of COVID on parents dealing with special children was scarcely studied in detail. Investigating parental stress, worries, and morbidity during the lockdown is particularly important for assisting these parents during further outbreaks. The aim is to assess the Impact of covid-19 lockdown among parents handling disabled children, parenting stress, their concerns, and morbidity during the COVID-19 lockdown. Materials And Method: The study was done among the parents of disabled children attending special schools in Chennai, using a cross-sectional study design. Parents with any recent trauma, mental disorders, or major diseases and undergoing treatment for themselves were excluded. After obtaining ethics approval, a semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess the Impact of the covid-19 lockdown. Collected data were ana-lyzed using SPSS v.21. Results: The study includes 305 parents, predominantly mothers (58%) and the mean age was 38.9+8.2 years. We observed that the COVID-19 lockdown impacted 149 parents (48.9%). The significant predictors for the Impact of COVID-19 lockdown were being a single parent [AOR-2.91(95%CI-1.05-8.08)] and having a part-time job [AOR-0.36(95%CI-0.14-0.93)]. Conclusion: The COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown significantly impacted the parents of disabled children. It is high time we give importance to these parents of children with special needs during this pandemic to help them during similar occasions in the future. © 2023, MedSci Publications. All rights reserved.

Randomized Trial of A Healthy Weight Intervention for Youth with Mental Illness: The Champion Trial

Introduction: Overweight and obesity in youth with serious emotional disturbance (SED) is exceedingly common. In 2015 the AHA called attention to mental illnesses in youth as important risk conditions for early CVD and the need for transformational change in management of overweight and obesity in this group. Our objective was to test a 12-month, innovative healthy weight intervention in youth with SED.Hypothesis: The active intervention is more effective than control in decreasing BMI Z-score compared at 12 m. Method(s): We conducted a two-arm randomized trial in 2 outpatient pediatric mental health settings in 112 youth, ages 8-18 yrs. The active intervention group was offered 12m of in-person and virtual individual weight management sessions led by health coaches who provided guidance on improving diet and increasing physical activity, and engaged parents. Result(s): At baseline, mean (SD) age was 13.0 (2.7) yrs with 46% ages 8-12 and 54% 13-18;55% were male, 46% Black, 39% had household income less than $50K/yr and 31% lived in a single-parent household. Primary diagnoses were ADHD (41%), major depression (23%), and anxiety (23%). Mean BMI Z-score (SD) was 2.0(0.4), BMI 30.4 (6.4) kg/m2.Mean(SD) psychotropic medications were 2.1(1.4).At 12m, 111 (99%) had a follow-up weight;42 were collected after the onset of the COVID pandemic). The intervention group compared to the control group had 0.15 decrease in BMI Z-Score (95% CI 0.26 to 0.04), p<0.007) between baseline and 12 m (Figure) and a 1.43 kg/m2 decrease in BMI (95% CI 2.43, 0.42, p<0.006). Estimated net effect on BMI Z-score for intervention vs. control was enhanced during the pandemic but not statistically different from net effects pre-pandemic (p=0.06). Conclusion(s): A weight control intervention designed for children with SED decreased BMI Z-score substantially over 12 months, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. These results provide empirical evidence in support of weight control programs in a population at high risk for early development of CVD risk factors.

When top-down infrastructures fail: spaces and practices of care and community under COVID-19

Throughout this article, we focus on the lives and experiences of residents in the Sun Valley public housing project in Denver. During the stay-at-home orders, the Sun Valley residents – an economically impoverished yet diverse community that includes refugees, Black and LatinX families, single-parent households, and individuals who are permanently disabled – faced extremely precarious conditions. COVID exposed and exacerbated the already failed infrastructures in Sun Valley, but within this failure, radical openings emerged, new connections surfaced and alternative practices developed among the residents leading to vernacular infrastructures of care. To understand and highlight these vernacular infrastructures, we utilized a combination of photography and interviews to understand 17 residents' and key community support actors' experiences during the initial stay-at-home orders from March to June 2020. From this data, we argue that, through community practices and relationships, Sun Valley residents' and community support networks addressed the crisis and uncertainty by developing vernacular infrastructures of care.

The Effectiveness of Filial Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Art-Play on Meta-emotion View of Mothers of Single-parent Children During Coronavirus Quarantine

Background: Social distance, linked with negative emotional impacts, is one strategy to avoid COVID-19 disease, particularly for single parents and their children. This research aimed to see how Filial therapy and cognitive-behavioral art-play therapy can help single mothers' emotional perspectives. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted with three groups in two stages: pre-test and post-test. The study's statistical population included mothers of children aged 6 to 12 years living in Isfahan City, Iran, in 1400. A total of 54 mothers with single parent children were chosen via purposive sampling method based on the inclusion criteria. Then, they were randomly assigned to three experimental and control groups during public call in. The dependent variable was measured online using Evelynekehe (2011) meta-emotion perspective questionnaire. In ten consecutive sessions, mothers with children in the two groups received the intervention, whereas the control group received no intervention. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to analyze the obtained data in SPSS software, v. 27. Results: There was a significant difference in guidance beliefs between the art-play therapy group and the Filial therapy group, as well as between the two modalities of treatment (P<0.01). The findings also revealed a significant difference in views about sufficiency and competence between the art-play and the Filial control group (P<0.01), as well as between the Filial therapy and the control group (P<0.01). This finding suggests that art-play and Filial therapy boosted meta-emotion and its components in Evelynekehe. Conclusion: Considering the effect of two interventions of art-play therapy and filial therapy on improving the mother 's meta-emotion perspective and the effect of art-play therapy on moderating ideas related to guidance and competence of mothers, it is necessary to pay attention to medical and educational planning. Consider the plight of single mothers in the COVID-19 epidemic and quarantine. © 2022, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.

Single-Parent Families and Public Policy in High-Income Countries: Introduction to the Volume

For the last 100 years, single-parent families in the United States have captured the attention of policy-makers, political actors, and social reformers. Although the national discourse has shifted over time, one theme has been constant: the absence of the second parent, nearly always the father, places single-parent families at risk of economic insecurity and material hardship. Before the Second World War, it was widely assumed that mothers did not, and should not, work outside the home. Thus, the absent father implied the loss of the main or only family breadwinner, leaving the single mother and her children deserving of various forms of support, including the public provision of income. In subsequent years, a crucial change unfolded: single mothers were increasingly expected, and eventually pushed, into paid work. Their status as deserving of publicly provided supports diminished over time. Nevertheless, it remained understood, and it still does today, that a single breadwinner's earnings are often not sufficient to secure a family's economic well-being, especially when that single breadwinner is a woman.Indeed, in the United States, it is well documented that single-parent families are much more likely to be poor than are families headed by couples;likewise, single-parent families headed by women are at greater risk of poverty than those headed by men. Today, about one in three single-mother families in the United States lives in income poverty (Wimer et al. 2021);and for many of these families, income poverty is compounded by food insecurity (Sheely 2022) and precarious housing (Edin and Shaefer 2015;Desmond 2016). Recently, it has been documented that single-parent families have been hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, due to both unexpected earnings losses and heightened demands on parents' time.The difficulties faced by many single-parent families raise a multitude of concerns, perhaps none more salient or more compelling than child poverty. While poverty is evident throughout the lifecycle—affecting children, prime-age adults, and the elderly—poverty among children has particular resonance. Child poverty captures our collective attention for several reasons: it is widely held that children need and deserve protection from hardship, most children have no control over their economic circumstances, deprivation during childhood can have lifelong consequences, and some of the effects of child poverty have spillover effects. Child poverty in rich countries is especially compelling, because it is rooted not so much in scarce aggregate resources but mainly in distributional arrangements, both private and public.

Effective Policies for Single-Parent Families and Prospects for Policy Reforms in the United States: Concluding Reflections

This conclusion engages two questions catalyzed by the articles in this volume. First, which policies are effective in reducing economic hardship among single-parent families overall and minimizing disparities across subgroups? Second, what are the prospects for related reforms in the United States? We draw four lessons from the articles in this volume and from prior research about effective policy design: (1) work-family reconciliation policies are crucial;(2) strengthening and stabilizing employment is necessary, but not sufficient;(3) it is important to support the accumulation of wealth in addition to shoring up income;and (4) policies can be designed to include and protect those single parents and their children who are especially at risk. Turning to the feasibility of policy change in the United States, we conclude that some factors—especially policy elements that encourage self-reliance, shifting public opinion, the COVID-19 crisis, and federalism itself—may enhance opportunities for policy development in support of single parents.

Mental health and parental factors among adolescents during the COVID pandemic in Malaysia

Purpose: The study aims to determine the prevalence of mental health problems among early adolescents and their associations with parental relationships.

Social Determinants of Health in Children with Severe and Non-severe sars-cov-2 Infection

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to have a compounding effect on families across various social and healthcare needs. However, the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on COVID-19 disease severity in children is unknown. Our objectives were to describe the SDOH in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection and determine their association with severity of the infection Methods: This prospective observational study was supported by the National Institutes of Health RADx program and conducted in the emergency department (ED) of two large children's hospitals. Children ≤ 18 years of age with symptoms due to SARS-CoV-2 infection (positive RT PCR test, serology or epidemiological link) were enrolled between 03/29/2021 and 05/30/2021. Data collected from electronic medical records included demographics, clinical features, treatment, disposition, and outcomes. Severe cases were defined as the following within 30 days of test positivity: diagnosis of Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children or Kawasaki disease, requirement for oxygen > 2L, inotropes, mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), or death. Following informed consent, caregivers were surveyed via an electronic device on previously validated PhenX questions. Aligned with the Healthy People 2020 SDOH framework, caregivers reported on economic stability, education, social and community context, health and health care, and neighborhood and built environment. Stata was used to analyze descriptive statistics, and unadjusted comparisons between groups were assessed using two sample t-tests for continuous variables and Fisher's exact test for categorical variables due to small sizes. Results: A total of 107 children (mean age 6.9 (±5.9) years, 44.9% males), with SARS-CoV-2 infection were enrolled, and 85 caregivers (79.4%) completed the survey (71.4% Black). In this sample, 97% of children were RT PCR positive, 3% had an epidemiological link, and 23 (27.1%) were categorized as severe. Almost half of caregivers (47.6%) reported employment or income loss due to COVID-19. The three most common SDOH needs identified were that of childcare (22.0%), housing instability (22.0%), and food insecurity (21.7%). Children with severe COVID-19 were significantly more likely to have a caregiver who was single, including never married, separated/divorced, and widowed (82.6% vs. 52.5%;Table 1). Although not statistically significant, children with severe COVID-19 tended to have higher levels of social needs including housing instability, poor caregiver mental health, and lower levels of social support compared to children with nonsevere infection (Table 2). Conclusion: Our preliminary data on SDOH suggest that among children with SARS-CoV-2 infection, housing instability, food insecurity and childcare needs are particularly prevalent. Children with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to have single caregivers. Family structure may influence severe COVID-19 in children and programming and supports for single parent households should be considered. Larger studies in the ED setting will help confirm these findings and to direct resources to address these social needs.

Kratom-induced Liver Failure and Death: A Case Report

Introduction: Kratom (mitragynine speciosa) is a tree native to Southeast Asia that has both opioid, stimulant, and other unknown properties. It is currently legal in the United States and used for therapeutic and recreational purposes. There is a dearth of literature on kratom’s effects on the body. At least half of reported kratom exposures resulted in a serious medical outcome, including death (1). In contrast, there are no controlled clinical trials on safety and efficacy of kratom as a treatment (2). Case: A 32-year-old Caucasian, currently unemployed, unmarried, mother of two children presented intubated to the MICU from an outside hospital with acute fulminant hepatic failure in the setting of significant kratom use. The patient also presented febrile with intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral edema, GI bleeding, acute renal failure, and diffuse intravascular coagulation. Psychiatry was consulted for potential liver transplant candidacy. Her previous history included six years of opioid use and transition to kratom 1-2 years prior to admission, with recent ingestion up to twenty-five times the patient’s usual amount (up to 125mg). Pertinent positive labs included elevated troponin (0.4), transaminitis ( >11,000), elevated PT/PTT (99/52), D-dimer ( >20), hematuria, pyuria, serum ferritin, prolonged QTc (514), and hypoglycemia. Pertinent negatives included unrevealing serum ethanol, phosphatidylethanol, viral hepatitis, HIV, COVID-19, EBV, CMV, other viral panels, acetaminophen level, toxicology screen, and EEG. Imaging revealed interstitial pulmonary edema and diffuse cerebral edema. Given lack of published information on kratom, the team emergently listed the patient for liver transplant despite significant concern for kratom use disorder. Over the course of three days, the patient’s mental status and labs continued to worsen, ultimately resulting in death. Interventions pursued included dialysis, mechanical ventilation, intracranial pressure monitoring with pressure optimization, anticonvulsant therapy, antibiotic therapy, N-acetylcysteine, and other routine MICU care. Due to relatively unremarkable health before ingestion, lack of other significant events, and severe rapid decline, multidisciplinary team consensus cause of death was due to kratom ingestion causing “acute liver failure with hepatic coma”. Discussion: This case report will go into further detail on kratom by analyzing kratom’s mechanism of action, therapeutic use, known side effects including addictive potential, effects on the liver including acute fulminant injury, and current laws and regulations surrounding kratom in the United States with relevance to public health. This is relevant to psychiatrists in the general consult, transplant, and addictions services. References: 1. Post S, Spiller HA, Chounthirath T, Smith GA. Kratom exposures reported to United States poison control centers: 2011–2017. Clinical Toxicology. 2019 57:10,847-854. DOI:10.1080/15563650.2019.1569236 2. Prozialeck W. Update on the Pharmacology and Legal Status of Kratom. J of the AOA. 2016, 116, 802-809. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7556/jaoa.2016.156

Risk Factors for COVID-19 Hospitalization in School-Age Children.

Introduction: With the recent emergence of the Omicron variant, there has been a rapid and alarming increase in the number of COVID-19 cases among pediatric populations. Yet few US pediatric cohort studies have characterized the clinical features of children with severe COVID-19. The objective of this study was to identify those chronic comorbidities that increase the risk of hospitalization for pediatric populations with severe COVID-19. Methods: A retrospective cohort study that utilized the Texas Inpatient Public Use Data file was conducted. The study included 1187 patients (ages 5 to 19) from 164 acute-care Texas hospitals with the primary or secondary ICD-10CM diagnosis code U07.1 (COVID-19, virus identified). The baseline comparison group included 38 838 pediatric patients who were hospitalized in 2020. Multivariable binary logistic regression, controlling for patient characteristics, sociodemographic factors, and health insurance, was used to estimate the adjusted risk of hospitalization for COVID-19. Results: Obesity and type 1 diabetes increased the risk of hospitalization with COVID-19 among both children (5-12 years) and adolescents (13-19 years). Adolescents with morbid obesity were 10 times more likely to have severe COVID-19 (p < 0.001). Regardless of age, single-parent households (%) for the patient's zip code was associated with an increased risk of hospitalization with COVID-19 (AOR = 1.02, CI: 1.01-1.03, p < 0.01). Other risk factors included chronic kidney disease (p < 0.05), male gender (p < 0.001), Medicaid (p < 0.001), and charity care (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Pediatric providers and public health officials should consider the need to tailor clinical management and mitigation efforts for pediatric populations with identifiable risk factors for severe COVID-19. These findings can be used to improve risk communication with families of children with underlying medical conditions and to prioritize prevention measures, including vaccinations.

Parental perceptions of increased child-to- parent violence of Spanish adolescents during COVID-19 lockdown

Background: Internationally, there was a warning of the risk of increased domestic violence during lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including child-to-parent violence. The objective of our study was to assess the prevalence of different violent behaviors from children to parents during pre-lockdown, lockdown and immediately after, between March 14 and June 20, 2020, and to assess differences in behaviors between pre-lockdown and lockdown and between pre-lockdown and post-lockdown.

Did Children in Single-Parent Households Have a Higher Probability of Emotional Instability during the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Japan.

The influence of public health measures against COVID-19 in Japan on child mental health by household type is unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether COVID-19 and the declaration of a state of emergency in Japan affected children's mental health between single-parent and two-parent households disproportionately. A large cross-sectional online survey was conducted from August to September 2020. The study included 3365 parents with children aged 0-14 years old who reported their children's mental status during the declared state of emergency. Emotional instability was reported dichotomously by parents. As the primary result, the probability of emotional instability was higher in single-parent households compared with that in two-parent households after adjustments for potential covariates; the adjusted prevalence ratio (95% CI) was 1.26 (1.07-1.49). Our findings suggest a disproportionate impact on children's mental health due to the pandemic.

Weathering the storm alone or together: Examining the impact of COVID-19 on sole and partnered working mothers.

Sole employed mothers and their families face numerous challenges. Yet, the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic may be adding additional risk to the already precarious day-to-day reality of this population. Thus, we examine the implications of this crisis for the mental health and job-related well-being of both sole and partnered working mothers. Participants were 206 mothers who continued to work during the pandemic. A moderated mediation model was analyzed. Work-family conflict (WFC) during the pandemic differentially related to mothers' parenting stress, based on romantic partnership status; when mothers were sole parents, the relationship between WFC and parenting stress was exacerbated. Moreover, this stress mediated the relationship between WFC and both poor mental health and decreased work engagement for sole employed mothers. Findings broaden our understanding of the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for sole and partnered employed mothers, and how this crisis may be increasing disparities between working sole-parent and dual-partner families.

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ONTHE LIVING CONDITIONS OF SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS IN SPAIN. A PRELIMINARY READING FROM THE LIVING CONDITIONS SURVEY 2020

The pandemic caused by Covid-19 has had a major impact on society, although it has been particularly hard on groups that were already vulnerable. This is the case of single-parent households, generally the mother, and her dependent children. The aim of this research is to identify the impact that the pandemic has had on the living conditions of these households. To do so, a secondary analysis has been carried out using data from the Living Conditions Survey (LCS) conducted by the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE). The results of the study refer, in particular, to the changes that the pandemic has brought about in the material situation of the household. These constitute a preliminary reading of the situation, which will have to be completed with future revisions.

Assessment of Characteristics, Sources, and Anxiety Levels in Women with Single Parent Status during the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had an impact on people globally, including mothers living in coastal regions. Therefore, this study aims at identifying the psychological status of single mothers living in the coastal regions of Indonesia. METHODS: A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional design was used with non-probability sampling in coastal regions of West Java, Indonesia. Furthermore, the Zung Self Rating Anxiety Scale was used to assess the anxiety level of single mothers. RESULTS: The anxiety of single mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic was generally moderate (n = 45.77.59%), with 44.83% attributing it to health and the economy. Furthermore, previous results showed that this condition was observed in the elderly (n = 38.65.52%), though it lasted <5 years in the majority of cases (n = 33.56.90%). Symptoms associated with the anxiety of single mothers during the pandemic include an increase in restlessness, nervousness, and anxiety. CONCLUSION: The economy and health of single mothers were the primary sources of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. A high percentage of these women suffer from mild anxiety and require immediate care to prevent the development of other health problems. Therefore, health cadres and community nurses are expected to take action to achieve optimal psychological welfare among single mothers during the pandemic. Further study can be conducted by focusing on the theme of defense mechanisms or resilience.

Glycemic status and health-related quality of life of type 1 diabetic children in Kuwait during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: The alarming spread of the COVID-19 virus caused governments to impose imperative lockdowns and quarantines which negatively impacted vulnerable Type 1 diabetes children. Objectives: The study aim was to assess glycemic status and healthrelated quality of life (HRQoL) during the pandemic in a cohort of children with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Kuwait. Methods: Patients (aged 2-18) and their parents were recruited from the Childhood-Onset Diabetes electronic Registry (CODeR) and government hospitals. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™) 3.0 Diabetes Module was used to evaluate disease specific total HRQoL through parent-proxy and self-reports. HbA1c results between February 24, 2020 and March 24, 2021 were collected from hospital records to assess glycemic status. Results: A total of 150 patients were included in the study (age 9.5 ±3.5 years, 51% males, diabetes duration 3.4±2.3 years). From the surveyed participants, 119 (84%) were on multiple daily injections, 26 (19%) had T1D family history and 132 (90%) were cared by both parents. Determined from 59 available results, mean HbA1c was 9.78%±1.61. Parent-proxy and patient HRQoL reports were similar in score (73.1±13.9 and 73.3±11.8). Patients reported lower QoL in the diabetes symptoms domain (p=0.04) and a higher QoL in the treatment barriers domain (p=0.002). Gender, nationality, and age did not affect HRQoL. Pump therapy and longer diabetes duration (>3 years) were associated with higher parent-proxy total HRQoL (p=0.01, p=0.03). Patients cared by both parents had slightly better glycemic status (9.6%±1.5 vs 10.9%±2.3) and better QoL scores in the diabetes symptoms domain (p=0.04). No statistical association was found between either HbA1c or COVID-19 history and total HRQoL. Conclusions: In this study, history of personal or family COVID-19 infection did not affect HRQoL. However, special support needs to be given to patients recently diagnosed with T1D, cared for by single parents, and treated with MDI to have a better HRQoL during the pandemic.