3 results
Search Results
2. A Qualitative Investigation of the Experiences of Women with Perinatal Depression and Anxiety during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Author
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Rokicki, Slawa, Mackie, Thomas I., D'Oria, Robyn, Flores, Mariella, Watson, Ashley, Byatt, Nancy, and Suplee, Patricia
- Subjects
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MEDICAL quality control , *ATTITUDES of mothers , *POSTPARTUM depression , *HEALTH services accessibility , *SOCIAL support , *PSYCHOLOGY of mothers , *RESEARCH methodology , *SELF-evaluation , *PREGNANT women , *MENTAL health , *INTERVIEWING , *EXPERIENCE , *PERINATAL mood & anxiety disorders , *QUALITATIVE research , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *RESEARCH funding , *JUDGMENT sampling , *THEMATIC analysis , *DATA analysis software , *COVID-19 pandemic - Abstract
Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on maternal mental health. We explored the lived experiences of women with perinatal depression and anxiety to elucidate their perceptions of how the pandemic influenced their mental health and access to care. Methods: We conducted a qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews. From March to October 2021, purposive sampling was used to recruit a socio-demographically diverse sample of women with self-reported perinatal depression or anxiety who were pregnant or within one year postpartum between March 2020 and October 2021. Interviews were conducted remotely and thematically analyzed. Results: Fourteen women were interviewed. Three major themes arose. Theme 1, Negative impacts of COVID-19 on symptoms of depression and anxiety, described how the pandemic magnified underlying symptoms of depression and anxiety, increased social isolation, generated anxiety due to fears of COVID-19 infection, and caused economic stress. In theme 2, Negative impacts of COVID-19 on access to and quality of health care, women described stressful and isolating delivery experiences, negative psychological impact of partners not being able to participate in their perinatal health care, interruptions and barriers to mental health treatment, and challenges in using telehealth services for mental health care. Theme 3, Positive impacts of COVID-19 on mental health, identified advantages of increased telehealth access and ability to work and study from home. Conclusions for Practice: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected women with perinatal depression and anxiety by magnifying underlying symptoms, increasing stress and social isolation, and disrupting access to mental health care. Findings provide support for policies and interventions to prevent and address social isolation, as well as optimization of telehealth services to prevent and address gaps in perinatal mental health treatment. Significance: What is Already Known on this Subject? Quantitative data suggest that the pandemic increased rates of perinatal mental illness. Yet the perspectives of women with perinatal depression and anxiety on how the pandemic affected their mental health and access to care remain underreported. What this Study adds? This paper offers new insight from the lived experience of women with perinatal depression and anxiety on ways the pandemic negatively and positively affected their mental health and access to mental health care. Implications for interventions, policies, and clinical practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Supporting self-management in women with pre-existing diabetes in pregnancy: a mixed-methods sequential comparative case study.
- Author
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Sushko, Katelyn, Strachan, Patricia, Butt, Michelle, Nerenberg, Kara, and Sherifali, Diana
- Subjects
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SOCIAL support , *CONFIDENCE intervals , *SELF-management (Psychology) , *GLYCEMIC control , *RESEARCH methodology , *PREGNANT women , *FISHER exact test , *INTERVIEWING , *MENTAL health , *PATIENTS' attitudes , *COMPARATIVE studies , *T-test (Statistics) , *SELF-efficacy , *RESEARCH funding , *PSYCHOSOCIAL factors , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *CHI-squared test , *GESTATIONAL diabetes , *NEEDS assessment , *DATA analysis software , *CONTENT analysis , *PEOPLE with diabetes - Abstract
Introduction: Maternal glycemia is associated with pregnancy outcomes. Thus, supporting the self-management experiences and preferences of pregnant women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes is crucial to optimize glucose control and perinatal outcomes. Research design and methods: This paper describes the mixed methods integration of a sequential comparative case study. The objectives are threefold, as we integrated the quantitative and qualitative data within the overall mixed methods design: (1) to determine the predictors of glycemic control during pregnancy; (2) to understand the experience and diabetes self-management support needs during pregnancy among women with pre-existing diabetes; (3) to assess how self-management and support experiences helpe to explain glycemic control among women with pre-existing diabetes in pregnancy. The purpose of the mixing was to integrate the quantitative and qualitative data to develop rich descriptive cases of how diabetes self-management and support experiences and preferences in women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes during pregnancy help explain glucose control. A narrative approach was used to weave together the statistics and themes and the quantitative results were integrated visually alongside the qualitative themes to display the data integration. Results: The quantitative results found that women achieved "at target" glucose control (mean A1C of the cohort by the third visit: 6.36% [95% Confidence Interval 6.11%, 6.60%]). The qualitative findings revealed that feelings of fear resulted in an isolating and mentally exhausting pregnancy. The quantitative data also indicated that women reported high levels of self-efficacy that increased throughout pregnancy. Qualitative data revealed that women who had worked hard to optimize glycemia during pregnancy were confident in their self-management. However, they lacked support from their healthcare team, particularly around self-management of diabetes during labour and delivery. Conclusions: The achievement of optimal glycemia during pregnancy was motivated by fear of pregnancy complications and came at a cost to women's mental health. Mental health support, allowing women autonomy, and the provision of peer support may improve the experience of diabetes self-management during pregnancy. Future work should focus on developing, evaluating and implementing interventions that support these preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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