Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on caregiver mental health and the child caregiving environment in a low-resource, rural context

Helen O. Pitchik; Fahmida Tofail; Fahmida Akter; Jesmin Sultana; A. K.M. Shoab; Tarique M.N. Huda; Jenna E. Forsyth; Natasha Kaushal; Tania Jahir; Farzana Yeasmin; Rizwana Khan; Jyoti B. Das; Md Khobair Hossain; Md Rezaul Hasan; Mahbubur Rahman; Peter J. Winch; Stephen P. Luby; Lia C.H. Fernald

doi:10.1111/cdev.13651

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on caregiver mental health and the child caregiving environment in a low-resource, rural context

Helen O. Pitchik, Fahmida Tofail, Fahmida Akter, Jesmin Sultana, A. K.M. Shoab, Tarique M.N. Huda, Jenna E. Forsyth, Natasha Kaushal, Tania Jahir, Farzana Yeasmin, Rizwana Khan, Jyoti B. Das, Md Khobair Hossain, Md Rezaul Hasan, Mahbubur Rahman, Peter J. Winch, Stephen P. Luby, Lia C.H. Fernald

Bloomberg School of Public Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Early child development has been influenced directly and indirectly by the COVID-19 pandemic, and these effects are exacerbated in contexts of poverty. This study estimates effects of the pandemic and subsequent population lockdowns on mental health, caregiving practices, and freedom of movement among female caregivers of children 6–27 months (50% female), in rural Bangladesh. A cohort (N = 517) was assessed before and during the pandemic (May–June, 2019 and July–September, 2020). Caregivers who experienced more food insecurity and financial loss during the pandemic reported larger increases in depressive symptoms (0.26 SD, 95% CI 0.08–0.44; 0.21 SD, 0.04–0.40) compared to less affected caregivers. Stimulating caregiving and freedom of movement results were inconsistent. Increases in depressive symptoms during the pandemic may have consequences for child development.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	e764-e780
Journal	Child development
Volume	92
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13651
State	Published - Sep 1 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Education
Developmental and Educational Psychology

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10.1111/cdev.13651

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Pitchik, H. O., Tofail, F., Akter, F., Sultana, J., Shoab, A. K. M., Huda, T. M. N., Forsyth, J. E., Kaushal, N., Jahir, T., Yeasmin, F., Khan, R., Das, J. B., Khobair Hossain, M., Hasan, M. R., Rahman, M., Winch, P. J., Luby, S. P., & Fernald, L. C. H. (2021). Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on caregiver mental health and the child caregiving environment in a low-resource, rural context. Child development, 92(5), e764-e780. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13651

Pitchik, HO, Tofail, F, Akter, F, Sultana, J, Shoab, AKM, Huda, TMN, Forsyth, JE, Kaushal, N, Jahir, T, Yeasmin, F, Khan, R, Das, JB, Khobair Hossain, M, Hasan, MR, Rahman, M, Winch, PJ, Luby, SP & Fernald, LCH 2021, 'Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on caregiver mental health and the child caregiving environment in a low-resource, rural context', Child development, vol. 92, no. 5, pp. e764-e780. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13651

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abstract = "Early child development has been influenced directly and indirectly by the COVID-19 pandemic, and these effects are exacerbated in contexts of poverty. This study estimates effects of the pandemic and subsequent population lockdowns on mental health, caregiving practices, and freedom of movement among female caregivers of children 6–27 months (50% female), in rural Bangladesh. A cohort (N = 517) was assessed before and during the pandemic (May–June, 2019 and July–September, 2020). Caregivers who experienced more food insecurity and financial loss during the pandemic reported larger increases in depressive symptoms (0.26 SD, 95% CI 0.08–0.44; 0.21 SD, 0.04–0.40) compared to less affected caregivers. Stimulating caregiving and freedom of movement results were inconsistent. Increases in depressive symptoms during the pandemic may have consequences for child development.",

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AU - Sultana, Jesmin

AU - Shoab, A. K.M.

AU - Huda, Tarique M.N.

AU - Forsyth, Jenna E.

AU - Kaushal, Natasha

AU - Jahir, Tania

AU - Yeasmin, Farzana

AU - Khan, Rizwana

AU - Das, Jyoti B.

AU - Khobair Hossain, Md

AU - Hasan, Md Rezaul

AU - Rahman, Mahbubur

AU - Winch, Peter J.

AU - Luby, Stephen P.

AU - Fernald, Lia C.H.

PY - 2021/9/1

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Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on caregiver mental health and the child caregiving environment in a low-resource, rural context

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