Perinatal Mental Health: The Need For Broader Understanding And Policies That Meet The Challenges

Dossett, Emily C.; Stuebe, Alison; Dillion, Twylla; Tabb, Karen M.

doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2023.01455

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 41 publications

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“…One potential determinant of maternal health that has been understudied, and is amenable to policy intervention, is access to stable and reliable childcare. 17 , 18 Childcare is often cited as a major stressor for parents due to high cost, inadequate supply (ie, childcare deserts), and general instability (eg, high staff turnover rates, closures). 19-22 Unreliable or precarious childcare can also impact parents’ labor participation and healthcare utilization.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Childcare disruptions and maternal health during the COVID-19 pandemic

MacCallum-Bridges,

Admon,

Daw

2024

Health Affairs Scholar

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly all US states enacted stay-at-home orders, upending usual childcare arrangements and providing a unique opportunity to study the association between childcare disruptions and maternal health. Using data from the 2021–2022 National Survey of Children's Health, we estimated the association between childcare disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and self-reported mental and physical health among female parents of young children (ages 0–5 years). Further, we assessed racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in (1) the prevalence of childcare disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) the association between childcare disruptions and mental or physical health. Female parents who experienced childcare disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic were less likely to report excellent or very good mental (−7.4 percentage points) or physical (−2.5 percentage points) health. Further, childcare disruptions were more common among parents with greater socioeconomic privilege (ie, higher education, higher income), but may have been more detrimental to health among parents with less socioeconomic privilege (eg, lower education, lower income, and single parents). As state and federal policymakers take action to address the maternal health crisis in the United States, our findings suggest that measures to improve childcare stability may also promote maternal health and health equity.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%