Background: Outbreak of the 2019 novel Corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to unanticipated psychological impact globally. Mental health of adolescents also requires significant attention. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the psychological stress and anxiety among adolescents in India during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify the most important precursors.Methods: An online survey was undertaken where adolescents in the age group of 10 to 19 years were invited to participate with a self-administered questionnaire. A snowball sampling strategy was used, focusing on recruiting adolescents living in Bangalore, India. Perceived stress scale-4 (PSS-4) and Generalized anxiety disorder-2 (GAD-2) Scale were used. Questionnaires were anonymous to ensure confidentiality and reliability of data. Data collection took place over five daysResults: 156 (52.0%) had a high PSS-4 score of ≥8 and 132 (44.0%) respondents had a high GAD-2 score of ≥3. Female gender and age were found to be statistically significant detrimental factors of stress and anxiety respectively (p<0.05). Academic delay and uncertainty about the future were found to be the most significant causes of perceived psychological distress among adolescents.Conclusions: Majority of the adolescents experienced varying degrees of stress and anxiety due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Our findings have both clinical and policy implications. The findings of our study indicate the need to identify adolescents as high-risk groups to ensure timely targeted psychological interventions and stress mitigating measures.
Background: The COVID-19 outbreak and stay at home orders has had multifaceted consequences on the mental health of adolescents. Therefore, the authors aim to (1) Investigate the feelings of depression among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic (2) Evaluate the mental help seeking behavior and awareness among the adolescents.Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken where adolescents in the age group of 10 to 19 years were invited to participate with a self-administered questionnaire. A snowball sampling strategy was used, focusing on recruiting adolescents living in Bangalore, India during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. The survey included the PHQ-2 scale and questions on help seeking and awareness. The questionnaires were completed in English through an online survey platform. Data collection took place over five days.Results: The study included 300 participants with a mean age of 17.01 +/- 1.34 years. PHQ-2 scale revealed a sample mean of 1.32 (SD=0.99). 34.7% felt little interest or pleasure in doing things on several days and 32.0% felt down depressed or hopeless on more than half the days. 52.3% of the adolescents indicated that they were unlikely or were unsure about seeking help for mental health issues and 24.3% were not aware of any mental health helpline. No association between socio-demographics and PHQ-2 scale was established. Majority indicated intention to seek help from parents or siblings.Conclusion: Adolescents constitute a vulnerable population and need careful consideration. The COVID -19 outbreak has resulted in increased depressive symptoms, anger, difficulty in relaxation and sleep disturbances. Lack of awareness of support and reluctance to use the resources has had a compounding effect on the mental health status of adolescents. Adolescents often choose to express their mental health concerns to their parents and siblings. Therefore, it is worth considering family as a potential resource of support for adolescents in this challenging time of need.
Background: Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI is well established to be a detrimental factor for prenatal development and neonatal anthropometric measures. Objectives of the study was to study the association between maternal pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) and the anthropometry of the newborn.Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional, observational study was conducted that included 236 normal newborns and their mothers. A pre-designed questionnaire was used to collect relevant socio-demographic data and obstetric history. Details regarding maternal pre-pregnancy weight was collected from antenatal records at first antenatal visit, maternal height was measured and BMI was calculated. Neonatal anthropometric measurements including birth weight, recumbent length, head circumference, chest circumference and the mid arm circumference was measured.Results: In this study 49.6% of the women were in the age group of 21-25 years, 52.5% of them were multi-gravida and 56.4% had normal vaginal delivery. Among the newborns included in the study 25.8% had low birth weight. We saw a significant positive correlation between BMI and age, BMI and birth weight, BMI and chest circumference that is with increase in BMI there was significant increase in the age, birth weight and chest circumference and vice versa. There was no association between maternal BMI and mid-arm circumference or head circumference of the newborn.Conclusions: Study showed the association between maternal BMI and anthropometry of the newborn especially with respect to the BMI and birth weight, BMI and chest circumference. Thereby, establishing that interventions aimed at improving the nutritional status of the mother have a direct impact on the fetal growth outcomes.
Background: It is well established that maternal body mass index (BMI) and haemoglobin (Hb) level has an impact on foetal growth. Various studies have concluded that intrauterine growth as reflected by the Ponderal index (PI) is strongly influenced by various maternal factors. Therefore, we undertake this study to address the evidence gap to establish the strength of association between maternal nutritional status as indicated by her pre-pregnancy BMI and haemoglobin levels and neonatal PI.Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional, observational study was conducted that included 236 normal newborns and their mothers. A predesigned questionnaire was used to collect relevant socio-demographic data and obstetric history. Details regarding the maternal pre-pregnancy weight were collected from antenatal records, maternal height was measured and BMI was calculated. Neonatal birth weight and recumbent length was measured. PI was calculated and co-related with the maternal BMI and haemoglobin values.Results: 11.9% of the mothers were underweight and 51.3% had normal BMI. Majority of the mothers (62.7%) had normal Hb levels and 0.4% were found to have severe anemia (Hb <7 mg/dl). We saw a significant positive correlation (p<0.05) between BMI and birth weight, BMI and PI that is, with decrease in BMI there was a significant decrease in the birth weight and PI of the newborn. There was no significant correlation between haemoglobin level and PI.Conclusions: Our study showed a positive association between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and birth weight, BMI and PI. Therefore, interventions aimed at improving the nutritional status of the mother have a direct impact on the foetal growth outcomes.
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