Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a pilot sample of women enrolled in the SEMILLA birth cohort study
Year: 2022
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Background and Aim Project SEMILLA, a community-engaged epidemiological cohort study, assesses environmental, occupational, and social factors among pregnant women in a major flower-growing region of Ecuador and the impact of these factors on child growth and development. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an unprecedented challenge to the implementation of the SEMILLA study. This paper presents the results of a pilot qualitative study with SEMILLA participants examining the impact of the pandemic on their lives. Methods SEMILLA follows pregnant women and their infants up to 18 months of age. Methods include obtaining prenatal urine samples, maternal and neonatal blood samples to assess thyroid hormone levels, and data on working conditions, environmental exposures (home/work), stress, social support, maternal health, socioeconomic factors, and infant neurodevelopment, growth and nutritional status. During the initial months of the pandemic, SEMILLA researchers observed important impacts of the pandemic in the study region and with enrolled participants. In April 2020, we conducted phone interviews with currently enrolled participants (n=11), to assess the experiences of the participants during this time. Semi-structured questions addressed concerns and worries as well as changes in activities (work/home) due to the pandemic. Results Emergent themes from qualitative analysis include economic insecurity and job loss, food insecurity and food access issues, strained relationships at home including interpersonal violence, responsibilities at home including additional burdens for participants regarding schooling of other children. Fear and worry about being infected, about having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy delivery and baby, and fear of family members being infected prevailed. Conclusion Findings from this pilot study helped shape protocol changes and revisions to capture the new reality for women participating in SEMILLA during the pandemic; changes which are critical for understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of pregnant women and their families in the region.
Source: ISEE Conference Abstracts
Institutions: University of Michigan, Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Language: English
Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4320065738