Quarantine COVID-19 compliance in families with an allergic and immunological diseased child and its psychological impact in KSA

Abstract

Background: With the onset of the spread of the Coronavirus around the world, the Saudi Ministry of Health has taken protective measures early to prevent the spread of the disease in the region, and the most effective of these measures is Quarantine and home isolation, which can have an impact on the individual’s mental health. The purpose of this study is to assess the compliance of Quarantine in a family with an allergic and immunologically diseased child and its psychological impact on them. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted between June-August 2020 was conducted via a self- reported online questionnaire that includes fear of COVID-19 scale for parents, Revised children’s anxiety and depression scale to assess Quarantine’s psychological effect, fear of getting the infection and also to know the family’s attitude towards COVID-19 and public health measures. Results: This study included 4,436 participants, and the findings revealed that (13.3%) of participants had a child with allergies or immune diseases, (30.2%) had children between 6-10 years of age, the mean fear score was 18.74 ± 6.48 (7- 35) which is nearly moderate; the mean values of the Child Anxiety and Depression Sub- Scale for Parents (RCADS) were 4.81 5.61 and 18.74 ± 6.48, respectively. This study showed a highly statistically significant positiverelationship between the mean values for fear of COVID-19 Score scale and mean scores for child anxiety and depression (P = <0.001), and also showed that 73.8% of the families thought that quarantine is a necessary action that should continue until the end of the Pandemic. Conclusion: The Quarantine impacted psychologically and financially on some parents. Children are also more vulnerable to psychological effects resulting from the commitment of families to Quarantine, so we see that special attention and care is needed to prevent these effects on them, especially children with allergic or immune diseases. Key words: COVID-19, Quarantine, Saudi, children.