COVID-19
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Canadian Medical Association Journal
This paper compares the physician visit rates for postpartum mental illness in Ontario during the pandemic and pre-pandemic in order to see whether the clinical burden of postpartum mental illness has increased during the pandemic. The data suggest an increase in need for effective and accessible mental healthcare for this population, as increased visits for mental health conditions among postpartum people during the first 9 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, people reported difficulty with accessing the postpartum social support networks and community programs, such as home visits from nurses, breastfeeding clinics and support groups. The study found an increase use of non-acute care services for postpartum mental health in Ontario at the beginning of the pandemic. This suggests the self-reported mental distress translates into high seeking for postpartum individuals. The paper suggests healthcare systems should focus proactively on those they deem high-risk. Moreover, the paper suggests further research into the safely and effectiveness of virtual treatment for postpartum mental illness.
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The Globe and Mail
This op-ed is written by two epidemiologists and professors. The CDC reported in the summer of 2020 that pregnant women were five times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID19 than non-pregnant women, and also 50% more likely to become ill enough to need intensive care. Come the fall of 2020, the CDC reported pregnant women were 200% more likely to require intensive care hospitalization, and 70% more likely to die, than non-pregnant women with the virus. Whether or not this data is applicable in Canada is difficult to determine. There are different implications of this research. Namely, risk patterns for contracting COVID19 in pregnant women are parallel to those in the wider population. Thus, the more efficient way to protect those who are pregnant is to reduce community transmission. Collaborative research is underway to evaluate pregnancy related risk through combining data from several provinces.
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The New York Times
In this article, a series of experts explain the fears of increased risk in maternal mental health struggles due to the COVID19 pandemic. The paper includes reports from a study by the University of Calgary, which suggested, when this was published in May 2020, an increase in self-reported symptoms of clinically relevant depression and anxiety in mothers with children in all age groups. This study suggest there is a clear need to develop affordable clinical services to account the increased parenting demands during the pandemic. This paper also highlights the groups and communities most at risk for developing maternal mental health struggles, based on previous findings.
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The Guardian
In this op-ed, the author discusses the challenges of the nuclear family model of parenting. She explains her experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, moving in with her parents, and how multigenerational living was an incredible experience for her whole family. She interviews Avery Kent, a woman part of the AltParenting movement. Kent advocates for families to move away from the nuclear family structure and back to the models of the past, such as community structures, multigenerational living, and communal child-rearing.
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The New York Times
This article discusses the support mothers need for coping with the pandemic. In many situations, instead of structural solutions and policies, a majority of work has been left to the unpaid labour of women. The article lists useful solutions for employers, the government, and individuals can help bear some of the workload being left to mothers.
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The New York Times
In this op-ed, the author discusses the rage being experienced by over-worked and emotionally exhausted mothers. The author defines 'mom rage' as a colloquial term for the unrestrained anger many women experience during pregnancy, postpartum and beyond. The societal expectations of motherhood, especially fear and perfectionism, add fuel to the rage many mothers experience. The author discusses the benefits of support groups of mothers in creating a non-judgemental environment. Creating a sense of community can allow for an initial and immediate relief.
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The New York Times
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a secondary epidemic of burnout among parents. This article provides seven podcast series aimed to help build a sense of community in the age of social distancing.
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The Guardian
In this article, V (formerly Eve Enlser) discusses the disproportionate negative impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on women.
To watch an interview with V and Family Care Collective founder Suparna Choudhury on the topic of disaster patriarchy, click below.
The Washington Post
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The New York Times
This article explains how mothers are often undervalued and disregarded. The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare that motherhood is a job, citing that before the pandemic, women spent an average 28 hours a week doing unpaid labour. While men put in work as well, on average, women of all ages and races, income brackets and employment statuses, spend over a third more time on unpaid labour than their male counterparts.
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
This study, out of Italy, is examining the effects of personality to distress in parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. For parents living with only child(ren), high levels of psychological distress depended solely on their own level of neuroticism. Whereas, for parents living with at least one other person in addition to child(ren), distress levels were also mediated by the child behavioural and emotional difficulties. Notably, motherhood was a significant factor contributing to greater distress. In addition, parent psychological distress decreased as the age of child(ren) increased. The results support that neuroticism is an important risk factor for mental health. This paper suggest preventative measures should primarily target multicomponent families with younger children. Moreover, the preventative measures should be directed to parents who are already known to present emotional instability, and to parents of children who have known mental health or behavioural/emotional difficulties.
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The New York Times
This article explains how the Family First Coronavirus Response Act is failing to meet the needs of families, particularly mothers. An estimated 106 million people in the US are not guaranteed coverage under the act. COVID related job losses have disproportionately affected women, often they are not quitting their jobs but are driven out due to a combination of family care requirements and employer rigidity. Even before the pandemic the policies protecting working mothers in the US consisted of a convoluted mix of federal, state and local laws. This crisis has made society realize that mothers are struggling.
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The New York Times
In this op-ed, the author uses their own experiences, while drawing on history, to dismantle the lie of modern motherhood. The pandemic has provided a wake up and face the myriad of unattainable social norms placed upon mothers in society. Lockdown has provided space for mothers to reflect upon these social norms, especially the belief mothers are held responsible for their child's well-being.
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PLoS One
In this study, parents and adolescents were examined to see if the COVID-19 pandemic played a role on the positive or negative affect of parenting styles (warmth and criticism). Using daily reports gathered over 2 weeks, once during the pandemic and once beforehand, the results indicate that only parent's negative affect increased due to the pandemic, not their adolescents'. The study states a possible hypothesis for this change in behaviour was the intolerance of uncertainty given the situation.
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The Guardian
The inequalities of health and pregnancy outcomes due to race in the UK are staggering, with black women being 4 times more likely than white women to die during pregnancy or childbirth. Women of Asian ethnic backgrounds face twice the risk to white women. Experts suspect the COVID pandemic has brought the disparity to the forefront. The interdisciplinary nature of the issue must be researched to be fully understood, such as domestic abuse, obesity, and existing health problems. Interventions to address poverty, poor housing, domestic abuse and racism are encouraged. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists are addressing the inequality through the Race Equality Taskforce.
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International Journal of Gynaecology & Obstetrics
This study aimed to access how mothers were coping and feeling during the COVID-19 lockdown. Further, this study aimed to identify potential pathways to assist them. An online survey was delivered for women in the UK with an infant under one year. The majority of participants felt negative affect, including lonely, irritable, and worried, but 70% felt the ability to cope. Travelling for work, food insecurity due to the lockdown, and having an income below 30 thousand pounds were characteristics to predict poorer mental health. The study suggests need to assess maternal mental health and identify prevention strategies during lockdown.
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Frontiers in Global Women’s Health
This survey aimed to rapidly assess the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent physical distancing measures on the mental health and physical activity of pregnant and postpartum women in Alberta, Canada. Depression and anxiety affect one in seven women during the perinatal period, leading to an increased risk of preterm delivery, reduced mother-infant bonding and delays in emotional/cognitive development of the infant. The survey used self-questionnaires on self-reported levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. These values were compared with pre-pandemic counterparts. Results indicate a substantial increase in likelihood of maternal depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. These results highlight the need for heightened assessment and treatment of maternal mental health.
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Frontiers in Psychiatry
There is a significant increase in antenatal depression and anxiety since onset of COVID-19 pandemic, and social determinants of health (ie. younger age, lower education, lower income) are associated with these poorer outcomes. This paper proposes an integrated approach to improve the mental health and well-being of pregnant women. Firstly, physical activity and/or mind/body interventions, such as yoga, can be adopted by pregnant women. Further, despite the social distancing mandates, social support should be increased. These evidence based interventions should be integrated within the health care system, while non-specialist healthcare workers are a key human resource to improving the access to mental health services. Additionally, the use of digital resources has potential to further improve access to care. Lastly, this study suggests COVID-19 related policies should structurally include maternal mental health and well-being as a priority.
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Journal of Affective Disorders
Rates of maternal depression and anxiety appear elevated during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic data. Risk factors for developing psychological distress were evaluated based on child age ranges, 0-18 months, 18 months-4 years and 5-8 years. Identified risk factors for depression and anxiety across different child age ranges can inform targeted intervention methods aimed to prevent long-term impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on family well-being and child development.
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JMIR Research Protocols
This study aimed to investigate the associations among exposure to objective hardship due to the pandemic, perceived stress and psychological distress in pregnant individuals, and developmental outcomes in their children. Using a longitudinal cohort of individuals who were pregnant at enrolment, a survey was conducted, with follow-up surveys during pregnancy and postpartum period. The findings will generate knowledge about the psychological consequences of pregnant individuals, while suggesting prevention and intervention targets.
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Frontiers in Global Women’s Health
The restrictions set due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacted how pregnant individuals received prenatal care and childbirth experiences. The stress due to these changes may negatively affect the well-being of pregnant individuals, and have impacts on their child. This study examined the impact of the pandemic on these factors in Canada, and explored the potential associations with maternal mental health. Findings suggest both the cancellation of prenatal appointments, and birth plan changes, were significantly associated with greater odds of experiencing clinically elevated depression, anxiety, and/or pregnancy related anxiety symptoms. These results highlight the need for reliable and assessable prenatal care during the pandemic. Suggestions include the integration of mental health screenings and coordination of prenatal care providers.
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Gender & Society
In using data from Statistics Canada, this research documents the trends in gender gaps in employment and work hours during the pandemic (February 2020- October 2020). The findings illustrate the importance of care provisions for gender equality, indicating larger gaps among parents than people without children. Further, the most significant gap is when care and employment were more difficult to reconcile. In addition, as employment barriers eased, as did the gender-employment gap. Note, the pandemic could not undo the long standing cultural and structural shifts motivating contemporary mothers' employment. Notably, the pandemic highlighted the need to assess gendered impacts through an intersectional lens, as the data suggest exacerbated educational inequalities among women.
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The Guardian
This article uses data on the vaccination rates in the United Kingdom to address the lack of clear communication for pregnant women regarding the COVID vaccine. According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, only 15% of pregnant women have received 2 doses of the vaccine so far. As the article discusses, many pregnant women are concerned if the vaccine has risks for their child. The unclear messaging from healthcare providers and misinformation being spread on social media has a role in the low vaccine rates in this population. The article talks to different experts in the field about the benefits of vaccination, and the specific risks pregnant women face to COVID19.
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The Globe and Mail
This op-ed discusses the adverse mental health impacts of one women through her experience with mom-influencers. Notably, through using Instagram and interacting with content about motherhood, this mother was targeted with anti-vaxxer rhetoric. Through this experience, this woman felt the way influencers exploit the vulnerabilities of mothers. The author chatted with gynaecologist and writer Dr. Jen Gunter about the negative effects social media can have on mothers. This can lead to misinformation more likely to be spread, as influencers has a certain measure of trust among their followers.
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The Globe and Mail
This photo-essay highlights the experiences of mothers during the pandemic.
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The Globe and Mail
This op-ed describes the experience of mothers juggling work and family demands during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, this paper describes the impossible societal expectation to find a work/life balance during these times.