Your browser doesn't support javascript.
New Parent Support Needs and Experiences with Pediatric Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Walsh, Tova B; Reynders, Rachel; Davis, R Neal.
  • Walsh TB; Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin, 1350 University Avenue, 53706, Madison, WI, USA. tbwalsh@wisc.edu.
  • Reynders R; Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin, 1350 University Avenue, 53706, Madison, WI, USA.
  • Davis RN; Intermountain Healthcare, Hillcrest Pediatrics, 5063 S. Cottonwood St. Ste. 160, Murray, 84157, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
Matern Child Health J ; 26(10): 2060-2069, 2022 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2035168
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES:

Despite evidence for heightened psychiatric risk and unique parenting challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, no research exists on the specific needs of parents of infants and responsiveness of pediatric care to their needs. We aimed to describe the support needs of new parents and explore their experiences with pediatric care.

METHODS:

In late 2020 we conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 mothers of babies born or due that year. Interviews addressed perinatal experiences during the pandemic, with an emphasis on experiences related to social support. In an iterative, inductive process, thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS:

This study identifies a set of support needs specific to the context of parenting an infant during the COVID-19 crisis coping with the compound psychological impacts of the postpartum period and a pandemic; parenting in the absence of expected social support; risk assessment to keep infant and family safe. This study finds that policies implemented by health care providers to reduce risk of COVID-19 transmission came at a cost to new parents and parent-provider relationships. Participants reported mixed experiences with in-person and telehealth pediatric care, including inadequate and/or uncomfortable postpartum mental health screening and breastfeeding support, and identified specific features that constituted responsive care during the pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS:

Normative changes associated with the postpartum period combined with complex adaptations necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic presented substantial challenges for families with infants, even relatively privileged families. Providers can incorporate these findings to enhance support for families and promote maternal and child health.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Parenting / COVID-19 / Mothers Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Child / Female / Humans / Infant / Pregnancy Language: English Journal: Matern Child Health J Journal subject: Perinatology Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S10995-022-03496-1

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Parenting / COVID-19 / Mothers Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Child / Female / Humans / Infant / Pregnancy Language: English Journal: Matern Child Health J Journal subject: Perinatology Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S10995-022-03496-1