Perinatal mental health and women's lived experience of the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review of the qualitative literature 2020-2021.

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dc.citation.volume123
dc.contributor.authorJin Y
dc.contributor.authorMurray L
dc.coverage.spatialScotland
dc.date.accessioned2024-06-27T02:26:44Z
dc.date.available2024-06-27T02:26:44Z
dc.date.issued2023-05-09
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in global physical distancing restrictions and lockdown orders. Despite the clear documentation of increased mental distress amongst adult populations during the pandemic, there is limited evidence about the mental health challenges of people in the perinatal period (pregnancy, birth and postpartum). The aim of this review is to summarise the qualitative research about women's lived experience and emotional wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A comprehensive search strategy was developed. Twenty peer-reviewed qualitative research articles published in English from January 1, 2020, to December 15, 2021, were included. Data synthesis outlined the evidence from common themes in a narrative format. RESULTS: Themes during pregnancy included: (1) information seeking: anxiety and fear; (2) experiencing isolation and disruptions to my social support; (3) 'Going it alone' in pregnancy care; (4) anticipatory grieving and despair; (5) finding 'silver linings' in social restrictions. One key theme during birth was "birthing in a crisis". Themes during postpartum included: (1) isolating 'Early motherhood is much like lockdown'; (2) breastfeeding: triumphs and tribulations; (3) facing disruptions during postpartum care; (4) 'Affecting us for years to come' - COVID-19 was not the only trauma; (5) 'silver linings' during postpartum care. CONCLUSIONS: This review provides important insights into how experiences of isolation, decreased social support and adaptions to maternity services affect women's mental health. Maternity services should consider how perinatal mental health support may be integrated into the care of women who may still be required to isolate or have reduced visitors during their perinatal care. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The restrictions and disruptions to maternity care due to the COVID-19 pandemic were likely to impact the mental health of women in the perinatal period (pregnancy, birth and postpartum). What is already known is that public health measures due to COVID-19 increased the prevalence of common perinatal mental disorders (CPMDs) and exacerbated common risk factors for CPMDs (i.e., poor social support). WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: The qualitative research with women in the perinatal period during the pandemic provides unique insights into how these events impacted perinatal mental and emotional health. In particular, the ways that global physical distancing measures and maternity care adaptations contributed to women's feelings of distress, isolation, and depression/despair. Silver linings such as more uninterrupted time with immediate family were also identified.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.edition.editionAugust 2023
dc.format.pagination103706-
dc.identifier.author-urlhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37167674
dc.identifier.citationJin Y, Murray L. (2023). Perinatal mental health and women's lived experience of the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review of the qualitative literature 2020-2021.. Midwifery. 123. (pp. 103706-).
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.midw.2023.103706
dc.identifier.eissn1532-3099
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn0266-6138
dc.identifier.number103706
dc.identifier.piiS0266-6138(23)00109-2
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/70031
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherElsevier B.V.
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0266613823001092
dc.relation.isPartOfMidwifery
dc.rights(c) 2023 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY-NC-ND 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subjectBirth
dc.subjectCOVID-19
dc.subjectPerinatal mental health
dc.subjectPostpartum
dc.subjectPregnant
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectPregnancy
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectMental Health
dc.subjectPandemics
dc.subjectCOVID-19
dc.subjectMaternal Health Services
dc.subjectCommunicable Disease Control
dc.subjectQualitative Research
dc.titlePerinatal mental health and women's lived experience of the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review of the qualitative literature 2020-2021.
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id461517
pubs.organisational-groupCollege of Health
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