Mental health and burden in mothers of children with congenital Zika syndrome during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objectives: to evaluate burden, frequency of anxiety and signs and symptoms of depression in mothers of children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) during the COVID-19 pandemic and the social isolation period. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study conducted with mothers who care for their children with CZS. The data were collected by an online form with questions regarding mother's socioeconomic conditions and questions related with Zarit burden scale and Beck's inventories on depression and anxiety. Spearman’s correlation tests and multiple regression analyzes were performed to assess factors related to mothers' burden and mental health. Results: 41 mothers were evaluated, 51.2% had mild burden, 39% had minimal anxiety and 73.2% did not have signs and symptoms of depression. Negative correlations were observed between levels of burden and maternal schooling (p=0.01), presence of signs and symptoms of anxiety and receiving financial aid (p<0.04) as well as the presence of signs and symptoms of anxiety and having children with seizures history (p=0.03). Conclusion: despite the risk of their children again being victims of an epidemic virus, mothers who care for their children with CZS did not present serious mental health impairments.

The burden of global outbreaks: Photos of the daily lives of children with congenital Zika syndrome during the COVID‐19 pandemic

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“…Esse risco ainda é maior quando a criança apresenta problemas de comportamento (van Driessche et al, 2014). Outras condições de saúde, como o autismo (Faro et al, 2019) e síndrome congênita (Gama et al, 2021), também associam o estresse parental à sobrecarga de cuidados. Essa sobrecarga pode ser ainda maior na ausência de suporte social, tendo como consequência estratégias de ajustes mais pobres (Calderon & Greenberg, 1999).…”

Spatial analysis of Zika virus microcephaly cases in a Brazilian municipality

“…Embora atualmente não ocorram altas taxas da doença, novos casos de microcefalia por Zika continuam sendo notificados no país. Com a pandemia pela COVID-19, as crianças vítimas da síndrome congênita pelo vírus Zika, citadas como grupo vulnerável, vivenciam um segundo surto viral potencialmente fatal (6,23) . Para muitas crianças, as terapias e consultas foram substituídas pela estadia prolongada em casa, pelo teleatendimento e por crises socioeconômicas.…”