Lockdown babies- Birth and new parenting experiences during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown in South Africa

Abstract

Background Perceived birth experiences of parents can have a lasting impact on children. We explored the birth and new parenting experiences of South African parents during the Covid-19 lockdown. Methods We conducted an online cross-sectional survey with consenting parents of babies born in South Africa during 2020. Factors associated with negative birth emotions and probable depression were estimated using logistic regression. Results Most of the 520 respondents were females (n= 496, 95%) who gave birth at private hospitals (n=426, 86%). Mothers reported having overall positive birth emotions (n= 399, 80%). Multivariable analysis showed that having the baby during lockdown (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 5.02; CI 1.28-19.66); being diagnosed with Covid-19 (aOR 3.17; CI 1.07-9.42); having negative new parenting emotions (aOR 6.07; CI 3.27-11.29); a preterm baby (aOR 3.02; CI 1.36-6.70) and lockdown related barring of preferred in hospital support (aOR 2.45; CI 1.35-4.43) were associated with mothers reporting predominately negative emotions about the birth. Having their chosen delivery method reduced the odds of negative birth emotions (aOR 0.4; CI 0.22-0.72). Multivariable analysis showed that having predominantly negative new parenting emotions (aOR 10.75; CI 5.41-21.37), breastfeeding struggles (aOR 2.16; CI 1.36-3.46); lockdown preventing health care access (aOR 2.06; CI 1.20-3.54) and creating financial strain (aOR 2.58; CI 1.08-6.18) were associated with probable minor depression Conclusions Lockdown exacerbated many birth and parenting challenges including mental health and health care access. However, overall experiences were positive and there was a strong sense of resilience amongst parents.

Postnatal care services availability and utilization during the COVID-19 era in sub-Saharan Africa: A rapid review

“…In South Africa, the COVID-19 lockdown led to mothers reporting delays in registering their babies. Only a third of the mothers saw a lactation consultant in the hospital during lockdown compared to the period before lockdown with only 14% of mothers who delivered during the lockdown reporting accessing professional support for mental health post-delivery [25] . One study conducted in Kenya revealed no differences in the utilization of immunization services during the COVID-19 pandemic [19] .…”

“…Of the included studies, five were conducted in Ethiopia [11] , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , three in Kenya [17] , [18] , [19] , two in Nigeria [20] , [21] , and one each in the Democratic Republic of Congo [22] , Mozambique [23] , Rwanda [24] , South Africa [25] and Uganda [26] . Four were multi-country studies [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] .…”

“…Two studies conducted in Kenya used a purely qualitative study design [17] , [18] to investigate women’s perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on access to post-natal services among refugee women [17] and in informal settlements [18] . Three studies employed mixed methods study designs [23] , [25] , [28] . Six of the included studies [18] , [19] , [23] , [24] , [27] , [29] were conducted during the first six months, nine during the second six months [11] , [14] , [15] , [17] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [25] , [26] , one covered the first year [30] , and three [13] , [16] , [28] after the first year of the pandemic.…”

“…Three studies employed mixed methods study designs [23] , [25] , [28] . Six of the included studies [18] , [19] , [23] , [24] , [27] , [29] were conducted during the first six months, nine during the second six months [11] , [14] , [15] , [17] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [25] , [26] , one covered the first year [30] , and three [13] , [16] , [28] after the first year of the pandemic.…”

“…Several studies which used primary data in this review revealed a decline in utilization of PNC services due to the COVID-19 pandemic [14] , [15] , [16] , [20] , [21] , [24] , [25] , [28] , [30] . PNC service utilization declines of 16 – 18% [14] , and 30 – 50% [18] were reported in Ethiopia and Nigeria respectively.…”