The association between maternal fears about their infant/toddler during the COVID-19 pandemic and depression and anxiety: a birth cohort study

Objective: To assess the association between maternal fears about their infant/toddler and depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In 2019, all mothers who gave birth in hospitals in Rio Grande, RS, Brazil were asked to respond to a standardized questionnaire (baseline). We followed them between May-June 2020 (first follow-up point), August-December 2020 (second follow-up point), and from October 2021 to March 2022 (third follow-up point), and asked them if they were: (1) afraid that their infant/toddler would become infected with COVID or get sick (yes/no), (2) afraid that they would contaminate their own child with COVID, and/or (3) worried about the pandemic's effects on their child's future. At baseline and at all follow-up points, we assessed depressive symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and anxiety symptoms using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, creating symptom trajectories using group-based trajectory modelling. We used multinomial logistic regression to calculate adjusted relative risk ratios (RRR). Results: A total of 1,296 mothers participated. Worrying about the pandemic's effects on their child's future and the fear of contaminating their own child with COVID-19 increased the risk of raising depressive symptoms to a clinical level (RRR = 4.97, 95%CI 2.32-10.64 and RRR = 3.87, 95%CI 1.58-9.47, respectively) and anxiety to a moderate level (RRR = 2.91, 95%CI 1.69-5.01 and RRR = 1.86, 95%CI 1.03-3.35, respectively). Conclusion: Fear for their children increased maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms during the pandemic.

The association between maternal fears about their infant/ toddler during the COVID-19 pandemic and depression and anxiety: a birth cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between maternal fears about their infant/toddler and depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: In 2019, all mothers who gave birth in hospitals in Rio Grande, RS, Brazil were asked to respond to a standardized questionnaire (baseline). We followed them between May-June 2020 (first follow-up point), August-December 2020 (second follow-up point), and from October 2021 to March 2022 (third follow-up point), and asked them if they were: (1) afraid that their infant/toddler would become infected with COVID or get sick (yes/no), (2) afraid that they would contaminate their own child with COVID, and/or (3) worried about the pandemic's effects on their child's future. At baseline and at all follow-up points, we assessed depressive symptoms using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and anxiety symptoms using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, creating symptom trajectories using group-based trajectory modelling. We used multinomial logistic regression to calculate adjusted relative risk ratios (RRR). RESULTS: A total of 1,296 mothers participated. Worrying about the pandemic's effects on their child's future and the fear of contaminating their own child with COVID-19 increased the risk of raising depressive symptoms to a clinical level (RRR = 4.97, 95%CI 2.32-10.64 and RRR = 3.87, 95%CI 1.58-9.47, respectively) and anxiety to a moderate level (RRR = 2.91, 95%CI 1.69-5.01 and RRR = 1.86, 95%CI 1.03-3.35, respectively). CONCLUSION: Fear for their children increased maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms during the pandemic.

Analysis of access to health services in Brazil according to sociodemographic profile: National Health Survey, 2019. / Análise do acesso a serviços de saúde no Brasil segundo perfil sociodemográfico: Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde, 2019.

OBJECTIVE: to describe the access to and utilization of health services among the Brazilian population according to sociodemographic characteristics, based on the 2019 National Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde - PNS). METHODS: this was a cross-sectional descriptive study based on a PNS sample; the prevalence and respective confidence intervals of data stratified by sex, schooling, age and national macro-region of residence were calculated; data were analyzed using Stata software version 16.1. RESULTS: a total of 293,725 individuals were interviewed; males showed lower proportion of medical consultations (66.6%) and were less likely to seek care (17.6%); among those living in the North region, 69.1% had medical consultations; 16.5% of individuals with low level of education obtained medication through the Brazilian Popular Pharmacy Program. CONCLUSION: the results reinforce iniquities in access to and utilization of health services, in addition to the need for monitoring indicators in order to guide health policies in Brazil.

Analysis of access to health services in Brazil according to sociodemographic profile: National Health Survey, 2019 / Análisis del acceso a los servicios de salud en Brasil según perfil sociodemográfico: Encuesta Nacional de Salud, 2019 / Análise do acesso a serviços de saúde no Brasil segundo perfil sociodemográfico: Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde, 2019

Objective: To describe the access and use of health services in the Brazilian population according to sociodemographic indicators, according to the National Health Survey (PNS) 2019. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study based on a PNS sample. Prevalence and confidence intervals of data stratified by sex, education, age and macroregion were calculated. Data analyzed in Stata software version 16.1. Results: 293,725 individuals were interviewed; men had a lower proportion of medical consultation indicators (66.6%) and sought less health care (17.6%). Among those living in the North region, 69.1% went to a medical appointment. 16.5% of less educated individuals obtained medication through the Popular Pharmacy Program. Conclusion: The results reinforce inequities in the use of and access to health services in Brazil and the need to monitor indicators to guide health policies.

Objetivo: Describir el acceso y uso de servicios de salud en la población brasileña según indicadores sociodemográficos del Encuesta Nacional de Salud (PNS) 2019. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal con base en muestra del PNS. Se calcularon prevalencias e intervalos de confianza para datos estratificados por sexo, escolaridad, edad y macrorregión. Datos analizados en el software Stata versión 16.1. Resultados: 293.725 personas fueron entrevistadas; hombres tenían menor proporción de consulta médica (66,6%) y buscaban menos atención médica (17,6%). Entre los residentes en región Norte, 69,1% acudió a consulta médica. 16,5% de las personas con menor nivel educativo obtuvieron medicamentos mediante el Programa de Farmacia Popular. Conclusión: Los resultados refuerzan las inequidades en uso y acceso a servicios de salud en Brasil y la necesidad de monitorear indicadores para orientar políticas de salud.

Objetivo: descrever o acesso e utilização de serviços de saúde na população brasileira segundo características sociodemográficas, de acordo com a Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (PNS) 2019. Métodos: estudo descritivo transversal, a partir de amostra da PNS; foram calculadas as prevalências e respectivos intervalos de confiança dos dados, estratificados por sexo, escolaridade, idade e macrorregião nacional de residência; os dados foram analisados utilizando-se o software Stata versão 16.1. Resultados: foram entrevistados 293.725 indivíduos; os do sexo masculino apresentaram menores proporções de consulta médica (66,6%) e de procura por atendimentos de saúde (17,6%); entre aqueles residentes na região Norte, 69,1% realizaram consulta médica; 16,5% dos indivíduos menos escolarizados obtiveram medicamentos pelo Programa Farmácia Popular. Conclusão: os resultados reforçam as iniquidades no acesso e utilização dos serviços de saúde, além da necessidade de monitoração dos indicadores, para orientar políticas de saúde no Brasil.

Análise do acesso a serviços de saúde no Brasil segundo perfil sociodemográfico: Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde, 2019 / Análisis del acceso a los servicios de salud en Brasil según perfil sociodemográfico: Encuesta Nacional de Salud, 2019 / Analysis of access to health services in Brazil according to sociodemographic profile: National Health Survey, 2019

Objetivo: descrever o acesso e a utilização de serviços de saúde na população brasileira segundo características sociodemográficas, de acordo com a Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (PNS) 2019. Métodos: estudo descritivo transversal, a partir de amostra da PNS; foram calculadas as prevalências e respectivos intervalos de confiança dos dados, estratificados por sexo, escolaridade, idade e macrorregião nacional de residência; os dados foram analisados utilizando-se o software Stata versão 16.1. Resultados: foram entrevistados 293.725 indivíduos; os do sexo masculino apresentaram menores proporções de consulta médica (66,6%) e de procura por atendimentos de saúde (17,6%); entre aqueles residentes na região Norte, 69,1% realizaram consulta médica; 16,5% dos indivíduos menos escolarizados obtiveram medicamentos pelo Programa Farmácia Popular. Conclusão: os resultados reforçam as iniquidades no acesso e na utilização dos serviços de saúde, além da necessidade de monitoração dos indicadores, para orientar políticas de saúde no Brasil.

Objetivo: describir el acceso y uso de servicios de salud en la población brasileña según indicadores sociodemográficos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde - PNS) 2019. Métodos: estudio descriptivo transversal con base en muestra de la PNS. Se calcularon prevalencias e intervalos de confianza para datos estratificados por sexo, escolaridad, edad y macrorregión. Datos analizados en el software Stata versión 16.1. Resultados: 293.725 personas fueron entrevistadas; personas de sexo masculino tenían menor proporción de consulta médica (66,6%) y buscaban menos atención médica (17,6%). Entre los residentes en región Norte, 69,1% acudió a consulta médica. 16,5% de las personas con menor nivel educativo obtuvieron medicamentos mediante el Programa de Farmacia Popular. Conclusión: los resultados refuerzan las inequidades en uso y acceso a servicios de salud en Brasil y la necesidad de monitorear indicadores para orientar políticas de salud.

Objective: to describe the access to and utilization of health services among the Brazilian population according to sociodemographic characteristics, based on the 2019 National Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde - PNS). Methods: this was a cross-sectional descriptive study based on a PNS sample; the prevalence and respective confidence intervals of data stratified by sex, schooling, age and national macro-region of residence were calculated; data were analyzed using Stata software version 16.1. Results: a total of 293,725 individuals were interviewed; males showed lower proportion of medical consultations (66.6%) and were less likely to seek care (17.6%); among those living in the North region, 69.1% had medical consultations; 16.5% of individuals with low level of education obtained medication through the Brazilian Popular Pharmacy Program. Conclusion: the results reinforce iniquities in access to and utilization of health services, in addition to the need for monitoring indicators in order to guide health policies in Brazil.