The impact of COVID‐19 on experiences of pregnancy and/or early parenting in Chile

Abstract

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has impacted families' mental health around the globe. In June 2020, 1163 parents of high (43%), middle (47%), and low socioeconomic status (SES) (10%) participated in an online survey developed to explore how daily life changes and restrictions that came with COVID-19 affected the experiences of pregnancy and/or parenting children under the age of 5 in Chile. The survey's design had an exploratory and descriptive scope, with a mix of qualitative and quantitative questions. With the aim of exploring differences before and after COVID-19, two time periods were established, and the 47-item questionnaire covered participants' sociodemographic information, support networks, health concerns, mood changes, self-regulation, adult and children's perceived well-being, parental competencies and parents' perceptions of the unborn baby and/or their children's needs.The results relative to retrospective reporting of pre-pandemic levels, showed an increase in children's crying and tantrums as well as in parental irritability and sadness. Additionally, decreases in the ability to calm down and sleep quality in both parents and children were identified. Finally, at a qualitative level, COVID-19 stands out both as an opportunity to get to know their children better and as a stressor related to parental burn-out and discomfort.

Supporting a double hospitalization during the pandemic: The experience of fathers whose infants were hospitalized while their mothers were also hospitalized due to COVID-19

“…This could have negative emotional consequences; it is a risk factor in the development of the father-child bond. 21 For a father, being separated from their unborn child can be very devastating as they lose every possibility of contact. These results show that fathers' involvement is a need, as evidenced by their efforts to be present despite the restrictions in place.…”

Acompañar una doble hospitalización en pandemia: la experiencia de padres con bebés hospitalizados mientras las madres se encuentran hospitalizadas por COVID-19

“…Esto podría tener consecuencias emocionales negativas; es un factor de riesgo en la construcción del vínculo paterno-filial. 21 Para un padre, separarse de un hijo en gestación puede ser muy devastador al perder toda posibilidad de contacto. Los resultados muestran que el involucramiento de los padres es una necesidad, se evidencia en los esfuerzos realizados para estar presentes a pesar de las restricciones impuestas.…”

Declining Quantity and Quality of Births in Chile amidst the COVID‐19 Pandemic

“…15 The perinatal period, which prepares the mother to take care of her baby, is a highly sensitive period characterized by specific changes at the biological, neurohormonal, physical, and psychological levels. The literature on COVID-19 and pregnancies highlights the biopsychosocial etiology of depressive and anxious symptoms during this period due to many stressors and their contribution to consequences such as preterm labor, low quality of mother-baby interaction, low maternal sensitivity, and delays in children's development (Olhaberry et al 2022). Additionally, the current pandemic has increased the risk of mental-health issues in parents, mainly because of social isolation and disruption, as well as changes in faceto-face educational, recreational and productive activities.…”

“…Additionally, the current pandemic has increased the risk of mental-health issues in parents, mainly because of social isolation and disruption, as well as changes in faceto-face educational, recreational and productive activities. In particular, pregnant women and young children have been identified as the most vulnerable population groups (Olhaberry et al 2022).…”