COVID-19 Early Child Development Digital

Knowledge Hub

A living repository for research products related to ECD and COVID-19 in the Global South.

COVID-19 Early Child

Development Digital

Knowledge Hub

A living repository for research products related to ECD

and COVID-19 in the Global South.

Explore The Repository

Explore projects in the repository

Recent projects in chronological order

Preterm care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative risk analysis of neonatal deaths averted by kangaroo mother care versus mortality due to SARS-CoV-2 infection

Health

2021-03

Background: COVID-19 is disrupting health services for mothers and newborns, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Preterm newborns are particularly vulnerable. We undertook analyses of the benefits of kangaroo mother care (KMC) on survival among neonates weighing ≤2000 g compared with the risk of SARS-CoV-2 acquired from infected mothers/caregivers. Methods: We modelled two scenarios over 12 months. Scenario 1 compared the survival benefits of KMC with universal coverage (99%) and mortality risk due to COVID-19. Scenario 2 estimated incremental deaths from reduced coverage and complete disruption of KMC. Projections were based on the most recent data for 127 LMICs (~90% of global births), with results aggregated into five regions. Findings: Our worst-case scenario (100% transmission) could result in 1,950 neonatal deaths from COVID-19. Conversely, 125,680 neonatal lives could be saved with universal KMC coverage. Hence, the benefit of KMC is 65-fold higher than the mortality risk of COVID-19. If recent evidence of 10% transmission was applied, the ratio would be 630-fold. We estimated a 50% reduction in KMC coverage could result in 12,570 incremental deaths and full disruption could result in 25,140 incremental deaths, representing a 2·3-4·6% increase in neonatal mortality across the 127 countries. Interpretation: The survival benefit of KMC far outweighs the small risk of death due to COVID-19. Preterm newborns are at risk, especially in LMICs where the consequences of disruptions are substantial. Policymakers and healthcare professionals need to protect services and ensure clearer messaging to keep mothers and newborns together, even if the mother is SARS-CoV-2-positive. Funding: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Elma Philanthropies; Wellcome Trust; and Joint Global Health Trials scheme of Department of Health and Social Care, Department for International Development, Medical Research Council, and Wellcome Trust.

The short-term effects of COVID-19 outbreak on dietary diversity and food security status of Iranian households (A case study in Tehran province)

Iran

Health

2021-01

Currently, the COVID-19 outbreak is spreading fast in 185 countries and has engaged most people around the world. COVID-19 imposes severe and tragic consequences on people's health due to the high rate of spread and potentially fatal impacts. In this study, the association of socio-economic factors with food security and dietary diversity is assessed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from 299 respondents were collected by an online standard questionnaire. Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) were calculated. A multinomial regression model was applied to determine factors associated with HDDS and HFIAS before and during COVID-19 outbreak. Food security of Iranian households improved during the initial COVID-19 pandemic period (P < 0.001). Households reduced consumption of some food groups during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Key socio-economic factors associated with food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic included personal savings, household income, employment status of head of household, and nutrition knowledge of head of household. During the COVID-19 outbreak, household size, head of household's occupation, personal savings, and number of male children were significantly associated with dietary diversity. Distributing free food baskets to poor households, extending e-marketing, providing nutrition consultations, and organizing donations to support infected households may increase household dietary diversity and improve food security status during a pandemic such as COVID-19. Vulnerable populations in countries experiencing food insecurity, such as Iran, should be supported - not just by providing medical care and personal protective equipment, but also with flexible safety nets and food-based intervention programs to respond to population needs.

Maintaining essential nutrition services to underfive children in yemen: A programmatic adaptation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

Yemen

Nutrition

2021-04

The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged that, as health services divert their attention to the COVID-19 pandemic, the delivery of essential nutrition services may be compromised. This impact may be more pronounced in the context of humanitarian crises, such as the one currently unfolding in Yemen. In line with Pillar 9 of the WHO’s COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, this paper reports on the nutrition program adaptations in Yemen to maintain the delivery of essential nutrition services to under-five children. The process of adaptation focused on the services provided within the nutrition surveillance system (NSS), therapeutic feeding centers (TFC), and isolation units (IU). It was conducted in five steps: (1) situation analysis; (2) development of guidance documents; (3) consultation process; (4) capacity-building programs; and (5) incorporation of programmatic adaptation within nutrition services. As of September 2020, NSS, TFC, and IUs services have shifted their standard operating procedures in line with the context-specific adaptations. The process described in this paper may serve as a case-study for other countries that intend to undertake similar adaptations in their nutrition program to contribute to the implementation of the WHO response plan and maintain the delivery of essential nutrition services to children.

Challenges in maternal and child health services delivery and access during pandemics or public health disasters in low-and middle-income countries: A systematic review

Not specified

Nutrition

2021-06

Maternal and child health (MCH) has been a global priority for many decades and is an essential public health service. Ensuring seamless delivery is vital for desirable MCH outcomes. This systematic review outlined the challenges in accessing and continuing MCH services during public health emergencies—pandemics and disasters. A comprehensive search approach was built based on keywords and MeSH terms relevant to ‘MCH services’ and ‘pandemics/disasters’. The online repositories Medline, CINAHL, Psyc INFO, and Epistemonikos were searched for studies. We included twenty studies—seven were on the Ebola outbreak, two on the Zika virus, five related to COVID-19, five on disasters, and one related to conflict situations. The findings indicate the potential impact of emergencies on MCH services. Low utilization and access to services have been described as common challenges. The unavailability of personal safety equipment and fear of infection were primary factors that affected service delivery. The available evidence, though limited, indicates the significant effect of disasters and pandemics on MCH. However, more primary in-depth studies are needed to understand better the overall impact of emergencies, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, on MCH. Our synthesis offers valuable insights to policymakers on ensuring the uninterrupted provision of MCH services during an emergency.

Adrenocortical and psychosocial responses of families in Jordan to the COVID-19 pandemic

Jordan

Learning

2021-09

This study of 52 predominantly lower income Jordanian and Syrian families with young children (31 girls; Mage = 53.37 months, SD = 3.53) in Jordan began in 2019, before the pandemic. Families were followed to explore stress physiology, family functioning, and mental health over the first 9 months of the pandemic. Mothers reported less adaptive coping and more negative changes to family life in June 2020 when their children had poorer behavioral self-regulation and more behavior problems, and when families had lower income, in 2019. More negative changes to family life predicted greater hair cortisol concentrations in children in June 2020, and more negative changes and less adaptive coping predicted worse child and mother psychosocial adjustment in December 2020.

The impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on families of students with special education needs

Jordan

Health

2021-06

The Covid-19 pandemic has been one of the most significant events affecting the largest number of countries at the same time around the globe. Governments instituted the closure of schools and lockdown of cities and other areas to prevent the spread of the virus. Students had to learn through online platforms meant to enhance continued learning. The current study aimed to explore the extent to which Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown impact families of students with special education needs. Qualitative approach was used; semi-structured interviews were undertaken using online communication tools via Google Meet platform and for data analysis Atlas.ti program was used for coding and categorizing. The findings revolved around main themes in the study include; behavior problems in the children, psychological distress for the parents, and difficulty of delivering the rigid content and schedules. Implications for school and social support are discussed for policymakers in Jordan.

Long-term psychological effects of covid-19 pandemic on children in jordan

Jordan

Health

2021-07

Millions of children and adolescents have been affected worldwide by quarantine, school closures, and social distancing measures which have been implemented by many countries to control the spread of COVID-19. However, the long-term consequences of such procedures on children’s well-being are not clear. Therefore, this study investigated the psychological impacts of COVID-19 on Jordanian children between the ages of 5–11 years old. A total of 1309 parents with children between the ages of 5 and 11 years old filled in an online survey that included a set of questions to measure their children’s behaviour and emotions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being bored (77.5%), irritable (66%), likely to argue with the rest of the family (60.7%), nervous (54.8%), reluctant (54.2%), and lonely (52.4%) were the most frequently reported symptoms compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Parents reported that screen use of ≥120 min a day was shown among 48.9% of children and 42% of children did <30 min a day of physical activity. ≤8 h of sleep per night was reported among 42.5% of children compared to pre COVID-19. The results emphasized the importance of developing preventative psychological programs to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children’s psychological well-being.

A cross-sectional study of the impact of COVID-19 on domestic violence, menstruation, genital tract health, and contraception use among women in Jordan

Jordan

Health

2020-12

The COVID-19 pandemic is a major global concern for public health where high numbers of COVID-19-infected cases and deaths have been recorded. This study assessed the COVID-19 pandemic impact on domestic violence, genital tract health, menstruation, and contraception use among 200 women in Jordan using a self-validated survey questionnaire. The questionnaire was structured to compare frequencies of domestic violence, reproductive tract infections, menstrual irregularities, and contraception use, type, source, and replacement during or after total curfew in Jordan with 6-months before the pandemic; 20.5% of women suffered from increased domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Incidence of menstrual problems and genital tract infections was significantly reduced during total curfew compared with 6 months prior (http://10.5% versus 17.5%; P = 0.016 and 19% versus 25.5%; P = 0.041, respectively). Pre-pandemic state of menstrual problems and genital tract infections was resumed after total curfew. During total curfew, phone consultations were significantly increased (17.5% versus 8.5%; P = 0.01), whereas visiting clinics was significantly reduced (23% versus 5.5%; P = 0.000) to manage menstruation or birth canal infections. Contraception use during total curfew significantly decreased compared with prior (59.5% versus 65.5%; P = 0.017). Using contraception for family planning was reduced significantly during the pandemic than before (P = 0.007). Maternity and childhood centers were more common sources for contraception before than after (14.8% versus 7% or 9.5%; P = 0.001 or P = 0.022). This study is important to evaluate preparedness of Jordanian healthcare systems in facing pandemic situations concerning reproductive health services.

Knowledge and attitudes regarding Covid-19 among syrian refugee women in Jordan

Jordan

Health

2021-05

Objectives: To explore knowledge and attitude about Covid-19, among Syrian refugee mothers in the Governorate of Irbid, where the first outbreak of Covid-19 in Jordan took place. Methods: This is a cross-section study among Syrian refugee mothers, who were pregnant or having had children. Data was collected through an online questionnaire. The survey link was distributed in April 2020, through the social network's messaging services Facebook and WhatsApp. Contact information was obtained from local community centres and non-governmental organisations in the town of Irbid, the north of Jordan. Results: In total, 389 Syrian refugee mothers participated in the study. It showed that 66% of mother's access information regarding Covid-19. The main sources of information were Facebook 87%, WhatsApp 69%, television 53%, while 21% indicated that they access professional databases or government websites. In general, Syrian refugee mothers were knowledgeable about Covid-19 transmission and prevention. However, they lacked adequate knowledge about transmission of Covid-19 between the mother and the child, and smoking risks associated with Covid-19. Conclusions: There are gaps in the knowledge and attitude of Syrian refugee mothers in the Governorate of Irbid in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. There is a need for further health education measures.

Impact of coronavirus disease-19 lockdown on egyptian children and adolescents: Dietary pattern changes health risk

Egypt

Health

2020-10

BACKGROUND: Lockdown and school closure related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have unfavorable effects on children and adolescents. AIM: This study was conducted to survey the changes in dietary pattern and related health factors in Egyptian children and adolescents during the COVID-19 outbreak closure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected through a dietary pattern, eating behavior, and physical activity electronic questionnaire conducted through social media sites, targeting parents of children and adolescents after two whole months of lockdown and school closure in Egypt. RESULTS: This study included 765 participants, 31.8% noted increased appetite, 45.6% reported increased sweets and unhealthy food consumption, and 37.6% showed increased frequent snacking between meals. Alongside 53.1% showed increase in late snacks during night after COVID-19 closure. The majority of our participants 82.0% noted associative change in eating behavior with boring and 94.6% revealed increased usage of electronics and screen time. This study showed significant positive correlation between increased appetite and mobile screen time, laptop screen time, and video gaming. Increased sweets and unhealthy food consumption was positively correlated with TV watching and mobile screen time. A significant positive correlation was revealed between uncaring about eating fruits and vegetables and increase screen time for each of mobile, and laptop and remote learning. Furthermore, there was positive correlation between decreased protein serving intake and each of mobile screen time and remote learning. TV watching and laptop screen times showed positively significantly association with frequent snacking between meals. Mobile screen time, TV screen time, and video gaming were positively significantly correlated with late night snacking. CONCLUSIONS: The present study concluded prolonged lockdown leads to changes in eating patterns, related to contributing factors of physical inactivity and prolonged screen time.

Caring for a child with type 1 diabetes during COVID-19 lockdown in a developing country: Challenges and parents’ perspectives on the use of telemedicine

Jordan

Health

2020-10

235 patients/families participated in the study. The mean age of the patients was http://10.8 years ± 3.9 years (N = 229). Twenty-four children (http://10.2%) needed to visit the emergency department during the lockdown period which lasted for 10 weeks. Of these, eight (3.4%) were hospitalized due to acute metabolic complications. Families (58.3%) faced insulin shortages and 14% had to ration insulin, i.e., decrease the dose, during the lockdown. Glucose monitoring strips were rationed by 43.4% of families leading to more frequent low/high glucose readings in 75.5% of children of these families. Telemedicine using phones and social media applications was utilized for communication with healthcare professionals and continuing medical care. Most of the participants (85.5%) described it as a smooth and positive experience.

Barriers to distance learning during the COVID-19 outbreak: A qualitative review from parents’ perspective

Jordan

Health

2020-11

Aims: The goal of this study was to review the content posted in available local Jordanian Facebook groups to explore the perceptions of parents regarding the challenges of distance learning faced by their children during the coronavirus outbreak in Jordan. Method: The Facebook search engine was used to identify local Facebook groups. The search keywords included distance learning, parents, and Jordan. Several faculty professors reviewed the posts and discussion flow on distance learning posted in Facebook groups from March 15th to April 25th 2020. Results: The study identified a total of 248 posts and threads which categorized thematically for further analysis. The selected threads and answers revealed four underlying themes: (1) personal barriers (2) technical barriers (3) logistical barriers and (4) financial barriers. Conclusion: Overall, parents were not limited to their daily routines during the pandemic. They performed the responsibility of helping school in teaching students. Many parents faced many types of barriers in their endeavors to assist their children with distance learning during the pandemic.

Parents’ Perceptions of Their Children’s Experiences With Distance Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jordan

Learning

2021-05

This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of primary and secondary students’ parents in Jordan toward the distance learning process implemented in light of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. To achieve the study objectives, the researchers used the descriptive survey method to collect and analyze data and interpret the results. After developing the study instrument (questionnaire) and ensuring its validity and reliability, it was distributed to a selected sample, consisting of 470 parents, by random cluster method during the second semester of the 2019–2020 academic year. The study results show that primary and secondary students’ parents were moderately satisfied with the distance learning process implemented in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the results reveal statistically significant differences in the parents’ perceptions attributed to the variables of the child’s grade, in favor of grades 5–7; teacher’s gender, in favor of female teachers; and school type, in favor of private schools.

Knowledge and attitude regarding COVID-19 among pregnant womenin southwestern Iran in the Early period of its outbreak: A cross-sectional study

Iran

Learning

2020-12

Both knowledge and attitude can play key roles in the prevention of novel COVID-19. This cross-sectional study was conducted on a statistical sample of pregnant women in southwestern Iran between March and April 2020 to evaluate their knowledge and attitude toward this condition. So, pregnant mothers registered in antenatal clinics affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were called and asked to fill in a three-part online questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric/medical history, and knowledge/attitude toward COVID-19. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The mean score of knowledge among 540 respondents was 34 (±4.1) out of 43. Also, 44.3% answered more than 80% of the items correctly. Higher knowledge scores were accordingly associated with marriage duration, area of residence, health insurance coverage, socioeconomic status (SES), and self-rated health status. However, a strong relationship was found between knowledge, SES, and health insurance coverage with reference to multivariate analysis results. Moreover, majority of the pregnant women and their households expressed their concern about using preventive measures against COVID-19. Although most respondents were moderately worried about becoming infected with COVID-19, 264 (48.9%) cases reported that they were very much anxious about their newborns being infected with COVID-19 and 388 (71.9%) individuals asserted that they were worried about their mortality due to this infection. Besides, most mothers maintained that they had some degrees of rumination, which could interfere with their routine daily chores. Hence, health policy-makers should pay much focus on educating pregnant mothers to help them prevent mental exhaustion.

Epidemiological pattern of pediatric trauma in COVID-19 outbreak: Data from a tertiary trauma center in Iran

Iran

Health

2020-12

Introduction In Iran, like most other countries, COVID-19 has had a deep impact on children's lives. Our hypothesis was that, a significant change in the number of pediatric injuries has happened in trauma centers. In the current study, we intend to identify the possible epidemiological shift in pediatric fracture patterns, by comparing the data from ‘COVID-19 era’ and the mean data from the past 2 years. To the best of our knowledge there are only few reports on epidemiology of pediatric fractures during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods Data are reported in two sections. In the descriptive section, epidemiological data regarding pediatric fractures referred to Taleghani tertiary trauma center, including demographics, distribution curves, etiologies and fracture types are presented during the ‘COVID era’, from 1 March 2020 to 15 April 2020. In the comparative section, the aforementioned data are compared with mean data from the past 2 years, the ‘non-COVID era’. Results Altogether 117 of the 288 trauma children (40.62%) had a fractured bone (145 fractures). Patients were mostly boys, with a mean age of 9.87 years (SD=5.27). The three most common fracture types in children included distal radius, mid-forearm and humeral supracondylar fractures. Compared to non-COVID era, the number of pediatric trauma admissions dropped from 589 to 288. No significant change happened in the mean age, male/female ratio and percentage of motor vehicle accidents. Proportion of proximal humeral, proximal forearm, carpal, and hand fractures declined. The number of open fractures significantly dropped (from 12 to 2). Conclusions In Iran, overall trend of pediatric trauma has been decreasing during the outbreak; but the lack of reduction in proportion of accidents may pose an alarm that an effective lock-down has not been imposed. This study has implications as to preparing appropriate resources particular to common “COVID era fractures”.

Parents’ knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19 in children: A Jordanian Study

Jordan

Safety and Security

2020-08

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a rapid global spread. All individuals of all age groups are at risk of COVID-19. This study aims to describe the knowledge and attitude of Jordanian parents regarding COVID-19 in children, including clinical signs of the disease, modes of transmission and protection measures. Method A cross-section study amongst Jordanian parents was conducted. The size of the sample was 810. Information regarding the clinical signs of the disease, modes of transmission, protection measures against COVID-19 and satisfaction with governmental measures was collected. Results The findings indicate that the parents had a good understanding of the clinical signs, mode of transmission and protection measures and were satisfied with governmental measures. According to the parents’ responses, the resource they used the most about COVID-19 was social media (78%), followed by news channels. Many correctly stated that fever was a clinical sign, followed by cough (77%). Almost 90% of the parents have an appropriate attitude towards companioning children within crowds. Generally, people are more susceptible to the virus within crowds. Conclusions In summary, we believe that the findings reported here are important for understanding the clinical characteristics and vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 infection in children, from the perspective of parents. The knowledge of parents about COVID-19 in children was considered good in the case of most parents. This knowledge helps with creating educational programs to increase awareness for areas that have weaknesses.

Explaining Variation in Parents' and Their Children's Stress During COVID-19 Lockdowns

Iran

Health

2021-09

The coronavirus pandemic poses a substantial threat to people across the globe. In the first half of 2020, governments limited the spread of virus by imposing diverse regulations. These regulations had a particular impact on families as parents had to manage their occupational situation and childcare in parallel. Here, we examine a variation in parents' and children's stress during the lockdowns in the first half of 2020 and detect the correlates of families' stress. Between April and June 2020, we conducted an explorative online survey among n = 422 parents of 3- to 10-year-old children residing in 17 countries. Most participants came from Germany (n = 274), Iran (n = 70), UK (n = 23), and USA (n = 23). Parents estimated their own stress, the stress of their own children, and various information on potential correlates (e.g., accommodation, family constellation, education, community size, playtime for children, contact with peers, media consumption, and physical activity). Parents also stated personal values regarding openness to change, self-transcendence, self-enhancement, and conservation. The results indicate a substantial variation in the stress levels of families and their diverse reactions to regulations. Media consumption by children commonly increased in comparison to the time before the pandemic. Parents raising both pre-school- and school-aged children were at a particular risk of experiencing stress in response to regulations. Estimated stress and reactions varied with the age of children and the personal values of parents, suggesting that such variables need to be considered when implementing and evaluating regulations and supporting young families in the current and future pandemic.

Pregnant women’s well-being and worry during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Iran

Health

2021-01

Background: COVID-19 caused some worries among pregnant women. Worries during pregnancy can affect women’s well-being. We investigated worry and well-being and associated factors among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 484 pregnant women using an online questionnaire. Sampling was performed in a period between May 5 and Aug 5, 2020. Inclusion criteria were having a single healthy fetus and having no significant psychological disorder. We collected the data using the Persian versions of the World Health Organization’s Well-Being Index (WHO-5 Well-Being Index) and the Cambridge Worry Scale. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify predictors of women’s worry and well-being. Results: The mean total scores of the WHO-5 Well-Being Index and the percentage of WHO-5 score < 50 were 64.9 ± 29.0 and 24.4%, respectively. Predictors of women’s worry are the increased level of fear of COVID-19 (OR = 6.40, p < 0.001), a low family income (OR = 3.41, p < 0.001), employment status (OR = 1.86, p = 0.019), nulliparity (OR = 1.68, p = 0.024), having a COVID-19 infected person among relatives (OR = 2.45, p = 0.036), having a history of abortion (OR = 1.86, p = 0.012), having participated in the study after the first wave of COVID-19 outbreak (OR = 2.328, p = 0.003), and women’s age < 30 year (OR = 2.11, p = 0.002). Predictors of low level of well-being in pregnant women are worry about their own health and relationships (OR = 1.789, p =.017), worry about fetus health (OR = 1.946, p = 0.009), and having at least one infected person with COVID-19 among relatives (OR = 2.135, p = 0.036). Conclusions: The percentage of women experiencing a low well-being state was relatively high. This result is worthy of attention by health care providers and policy makers. Providing care and support to pregnant women should have high priority during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Relationship of fear of COVID-19 and pregnancy-related quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic

Iran

Health

2021-08

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and quality of life in Iranian pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 250 Iranian pregnant women. Data was collected through questionnaires including demographic and obstetric characteristics, fear of COVID-19 and quality of life. An adjusted general linear model was used to determine the relationship between variables. Results: There was a negatively significant relationship between fear of COVID-19 and quality of life (P < 0.001). Based on the adjusted general linear model, it was expected that if COVID-19 fear score increased, the quality of life score would decrease significantly (B = -0.21, 95%CI: −0.34 to −0.09, P = 0.001). Conclusion: This study indicated a reverse correlation between fears of COVID-19 and quality of life. Therefore, developing appropriate interventions in order to overcome the fear caused by COVID-19 are recommended to improve pregnant women's quality of life.

Health anxiety and related factors among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study from Iran

Iran

Health

2021-02

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many countries around the world and Iran was no exception. The aim of this study was to evaluate health anxiety of Iranian pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 300 pregnant women in different trimesters (n = 100 in each trimester) were recruited. A demographic questionnaire and the Health Anxiety Questionnaire were used to collect data. Scores of < 27, 27–34 and more than 35 were defined as low, moderate and high health anxiety, respectively. Due to nationwide restrictions, data were collected through social media groups. Chi-square tests, ANOVA and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results: Mean (SD) total anxiety scores were 22.3 ± 9.5, 24.6 ± 9.3 and 25.4 ± http://10.6 in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. 9, 13 and 21% of women had severe anxiety in the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. Women in the third trimester had significantly higher health anxiety scores than those in the first trimester (p = 0.045). Conclusion: At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy were more worried about consequences of disease, but total health anxiety scores were significantly higher among women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Health care providers should pay more attention to the mental health of pregnant women in times of crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Explore projects in the repository

Recent projects in chronological order

Preterm care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative risk analysis of neonatal deaths averted by kangaroo mother care versus mortality due to SARS-CoV-2 infection

Health

2021-03

Background: COVID-19 is disrupting health services for mothers and newborns, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Preterm newborns are particularly vulnerable. We undertook analyses of the benefits of kangaroo mother care (KMC) on survival among neonates weighing ≤2000 g compared with the risk of SARS-CoV-2 acquired from infected mothers/caregivers. Methods: We modelled two scenarios over 12 months. Scenario 1 compared the survival benefits of KMC with universal coverage (99%) and mortality risk due to COVID-19. Scenario 2 estimated incremental deaths from reduced coverage and complete disruption of KMC. Projections were based on the most recent data for 127 LMICs (~90% of global births), with results aggregated into five regions. Findings: Our worst-case scenario (100% transmission) could result in 1,950 neonatal deaths from COVID-19. Conversely, 125,680 neonatal lives could be saved with universal KMC coverage. Hence, the benefit of KMC is 65-fold higher than the mortality risk of COVID-19. If recent evidence of 10% transmission was applied, the ratio would be 630-fold. We estimated a 50% reduction in KMC coverage could result in 12,570 incremental deaths and full disruption could result in 25,140 incremental deaths, representing a 2·3-4·6% increase in neonatal mortality across the 127 countries. Interpretation: The survival benefit of KMC far outweighs the small risk of death due to COVID-19. Preterm newborns are at risk, especially in LMICs where the consequences of disruptions are substantial. Policymakers and healthcare professionals need to protect services and ensure clearer messaging to keep mothers and newborns together, even if the mother is SARS-CoV-2-positive. Funding: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Elma Philanthropies; Wellcome Trust; and Joint Global Health Trials scheme of Department of Health and Social Care, Department for International Development, Medical Research Council, and Wellcome Trust.

The short-term effects of COVID-19 outbreak on dietary diversity and food security status of Iranian households (A case study in Tehran province)

Iran

Health

2021-01

Currently, the COVID-19 outbreak is spreading fast in 185 countries and has engaged most people around the world. COVID-19 imposes severe and tragic consequences on people's health due to the high rate of spread and potentially fatal impacts. In this study, the association of socio-economic factors with food security and dietary diversity is assessed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from 299 respondents were collected by an online standard questionnaire. Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) and Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) were calculated. A multinomial regression model was applied to determine factors associated with HDDS and HFIAS before and during COVID-19 outbreak. Food security of Iranian households improved during the initial COVID-19 pandemic period (P < 0.001). Households reduced consumption of some food groups during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Key socio-economic factors associated with food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic included personal savings, household income, employment status of head of household, and nutrition knowledge of head of household. During the COVID-19 outbreak, household size, head of household's occupation, personal savings, and number of male children were significantly associated with dietary diversity. Distributing free food baskets to poor households, extending e-marketing, providing nutrition consultations, and organizing donations to support infected households may increase household dietary diversity and improve food security status during a pandemic such as COVID-19. Vulnerable populations in countries experiencing food insecurity, such as Iran, should be supported - not just by providing medical care and personal protective equipment, but also with flexible safety nets and food-based intervention programs to respond to population needs.

Maintaining essential nutrition services to underfive children in yemen: A programmatic adaptation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

Yemen

Nutrition

2021-04

The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged that, as health services divert their attention to the COVID-19 pandemic, the delivery of essential nutrition services may be compromised. This impact may be more pronounced in the context of humanitarian crises, such as the one currently unfolding in Yemen. In line with Pillar 9 of the WHO’s COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, this paper reports on the nutrition program adaptations in Yemen to maintain the delivery of essential nutrition services to under-five children. The process of adaptation focused on the services provided within the nutrition surveillance system (NSS), therapeutic feeding centers (TFC), and isolation units (IU). It was conducted in five steps: (1) situation analysis; (2) development of guidance documents; (3) consultation process; (4) capacity-building programs; and (5) incorporation of programmatic adaptation within nutrition services. As of September 2020, NSS, TFC, and IUs services have shifted their standard operating procedures in line with the context-specific adaptations. The process described in this paper may serve as a case-study for other countries that intend to undertake similar adaptations in their nutrition program to contribute to the implementation of the WHO response plan and maintain the delivery of essential nutrition services to children.

Challenges in maternal and child health services delivery and access during pandemics or public health disasters in low-and middle-income countries: A systematic review

Not specified

Nutrition

2021-06

Maternal and child health (MCH) has been a global priority for many decades and is an essential public health service. Ensuring seamless delivery is vital for desirable MCH outcomes. This systematic review outlined the challenges in accessing and continuing MCH services during public health emergencies—pandemics and disasters. A comprehensive search approach was built based on keywords and MeSH terms relevant to ‘MCH services’ and ‘pandemics/disasters’. The online repositories Medline, CINAHL, Psyc INFO, and Epistemonikos were searched for studies. We included twenty studies—seven were on the Ebola outbreak, two on the Zika virus, five related to COVID-19, five on disasters, and one related to conflict situations. The findings indicate the potential impact of emergencies on MCH services. Low utilization and access to services have been described as common challenges. The unavailability of personal safety equipment and fear of infection were primary factors that affected service delivery. The available evidence, though limited, indicates the significant effect of disasters and pandemics on MCH. However, more primary in-depth studies are needed to understand better the overall impact of emergencies, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, on MCH. Our synthesis offers valuable insights to policymakers on ensuring the uninterrupted provision of MCH services during an emergency.

Adrenocortical and psychosocial responses of families in Jordan to the COVID-19 pandemic

Jordan

Learning

2021-09

This study of 52 predominantly lower income Jordanian and Syrian families with young children (31 girls; Mage = 53.37 months, SD = 3.53) in Jordan began in 2019, before the pandemic. Families were followed to explore stress physiology, family functioning, and mental health over the first 9 months of the pandemic. Mothers reported less adaptive coping and more negative changes to family life in June 2020 when their children had poorer behavioral self-regulation and more behavior problems, and when families had lower income, in 2019. More negative changes to family life predicted greater hair cortisol concentrations in children in June 2020, and more negative changes and less adaptive coping predicted worse child and mother psychosocial adjustment in December 2020.

COVID-19 Early Child Development Digital

Knowledge Hub

A living repository for research products related to ECD and COVID-19 in the Global South.

COVID-19 Early Child

Development Digital

Knowledge Hub

A living repository for research products related to ECD

and COVID-19 in the Global South.

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Preterm care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative risk analysis of neonatal deaths averted by kangaroo mother care versus mortality due to SARS-CoV-2 infection

The short-term effects of COVID-19 outbreak on dietary diversity and food security status of Iranian households (A case study in Tehran province)

Maintaining essential nutrition services to underfive children in yemen: A programmatic adaptation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

Challenges in maternal and child health services delivery and access during pandemics or public health disasters in low-and middle-income countries: A systematic review

Adrenocortical and psychosocial responses of families in Jordan to the COVID-19 pandemic

The impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on families of students with special education needs

Long-term psychological effects of covid-19 pandemic on children in jordan

A cross-sectional study of the impact of COVID-19 on domestic violence, menstruation, genital tract health, and contraception use among women in Jordan

Knowledge and attitudes regarding Covid-19 among syrian refugee women in Jordan

Impact of coronavirus disease-19 lockdown on egyptian children and adolescents: Dietary pattern changes health risk

Caring for a child with type 1 diabetes during COVID-19 lockdown in a developing country: Challenges and parents’ perspectives on the use of telemedicine

Barriers to distance learning during the COVID-19 outbreak: A qualitative review from parents’ perspective

Parents’ Perceptions of Their Children’s Experiences With Distance Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Knowledge and attitude regarding COVID-19 among pregnant womenin southwestern Iran in the Early period of its outbreak: A cross-sectional study

Epidemiological pattern of pediatric trauma in COVID-19 outbreak: Data from a tertiary trauma center in Iran

Parents’ knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19 in children: A Jordanian Study

Explaining Variation in Parents' and Their Children's Stress During COVID-19 Lockdowns

Pregnant women’s well-being and worry during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Relationship of fear of COVID-19 and pregnancy-related quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic

Health anxiety and related factors among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study from Iran

Explore projects in the repository

Recent projects in chronological order

Preterm care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative risk analysis of neonatal deaths averted by kangaroo mother care versus mortality due to SARS-CoV-2 infection

The short-term effects of COVID-19 outbreak on dietary diversity and food security status of Iranian households (A case study in Tehran province)

Maintaining essential nutrition services to underfive children in yemen: A programmatic adaptation amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

Challenges in maternal and child health services delivery and access during pandemics or public health disasters in low-and middle-income countries: A systematic review

Adrenocortical and psychosocial responses of families in Jordan to the COVID-19 pandemic

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