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COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Restrictions: Factors That May Affect Perinatal Maternal Mental Health and Implications for

Theano Kokkinaki1, Eleftheria Hatzidaki2

  • 1Child Development and Education Unit, Laboratory of Applied Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Crete, Rethymno, Greece.

Frontiers in Pediatrics
|May 31, 2022
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted maternal mental health and infant development due to restrictions. Evidence-based interventions in prenatal and postpartum care are crucial for maternal well-being and infant development.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal mental health
  • Infant development
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic introduced unprecedented challenges to maternal mental health.
  • Pandemic-related restrictions may have exacerbated perinatal mental health issues.
  • Maternal emotional well-being is intrinsically linked to infant development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review factors affecting maternal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • To examine the impact of pandemic restrictions on perinatal mental health.
  • To present the consequences of compromised maternal mental health on infant development.

Main Methods:

  • This study is a review of existing literature.
  • It synthesizes research on maternal mental health and infant development during the pandemic.
  • The review focuses on pandemic-related restrictions and their effects.

Main Results:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with negative effects on maternal mental health.
  • Pandemic restrictions have potentially harmed perinatal mental well-being.
  • Adversely affected maternal mental health can have detrimental implications for infant development.

Conclusions:

  • The pandemic poses risks to maternal mental health and infant development.
  • There is a need for integrated, evidence-based interventions in prenatal and postpartum care.
  • Promoting maternal mental health is essential for fostering healthy infant development.

Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemicNICUbirth experiencebreastfeedingfamily functioningmaternal health care policymaternal mental healthneonate/infant development

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