ObjectivesIn the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation, school/child care closures and employment instability have created unprecedented conditions for families raising children at home. This study describes the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on families with children in Canada.Design, setting and participantsThis descriptive study used a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey of adults living in Canada (n=3000) to examine the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Outcomes among parents with children <18 years old living at home (n=618) were compared with the rest of the sample. Data were collected via an online survey between 14 May to 29 May 2020.Outcome measuresParticipants reported on changes to their mental health since the onset of the pandemic and sources of stress, emotional responses, substance use patterns and suicidality/self-harm. Additionally, parents identified changes in their interactions with their children, impacts on their children’s mental health and sources of support accessed.Results44.3% of parents with children <18 years living at home reported worse mental health as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with 35.6% of respondents without children <18 living at home, χ2 (1, n=3000)=16.2, p<0.001. More parents compared with the rest of the sample reported increased alcohol consumption (27.7% vs 16.1%, χ2 (1, n=3000)=43.8, p<0.001), suicidal thoughts/feelings (8.3% vs 5.2%, χ2 (1, n=3000)=8.0, p=0.005) and stress about being safe from physical/emotional domestic violence (11.5% vs 7.9%, χ2 (1, n=3000)=8.1, p=0.005). 24.8% (95% CI 21.4 to 28.4) of parents reported their children’s mental health had worsened since the pandemic. Parents also reported more frequent negative as well as positive interactions with their children due to the pandemic (eg, more conflicts, 22.2% (95% CI 19.0 to 25.7); increased feelings of closeness, 49.7% (95% CI 45.7 to 53.7)).ConclusionsThis study identifies that families with children <18 at home have experienced deteriorated mental health due to the pandemic. Population-level responses are required to adequately respond to families’ diverse needs and mitigate the potential for widening health and social inequities for parents and children.
Highlights
Adverse mental health outcomes due to COVID-19 quarantine vary by reason for quarantine
Quarantine is associated with suicidal thoughts except when done due to recent travel
Quarantine surveillance should include active mental health assessment and outreach
Individuals who have quarantined during the COVID-19 pandemic are at increased risk for adverse mental health consequences beyond the quarantine period itself and should receive “flagged” for ongoing mental health monitoring
Community-based social support interventions are a gender-sensitive-, culturally appropriate-, and resource-sparing approach to promote women's resilience and improve their mental health.
Background: Sexual harassment towards nurses has negative consequences, both for the nurses and for the health care organizations.Female nurses are more at risk for sexual violence because their caring a�itude is misperceived by male patients as sexual signals. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of sexual harassment towards nurses.
Method:A descriptive Cross-sectional study was conducted with 458 registered nurses from all the Inpatient units and the Emergency departments of two government and two private healthcare se�ings in Karachi, Pakistan. The data was collected through a tool known as "workplace violence in the health sector country case studies research instrument" (2003).
Results:The study found 10% prevalence of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment was almost the same at both the government and private healthcare se�ings. The common perpetrators were found to be patients' relatives (47.8%) and the staff members (32.6%). Nurses, who were between 19 and 29 years of age, were mostly the victims ofsexual harassment.
Conclusion:Considering the study findings, it is recommended that acceptable and non-acceptable behaviors for patients and their relatives must be communicated very clearly in the hospitals, so that they may get aware of and practice acceptable behaviors. Moreover, a structured reporting system should be formulated in the private and government health care organizations.
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