Poster #91 - Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Latinx mother’s mental health with infants admitted to the NICU

• In Event: Poster Session 12

Abstract

Purpose
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our reality and mothers whose babies are admitted to the NICU are no exception. A retrospective cross sectional study design was used to assess the presence of cumulative stress (both pandemic and other life stressors) on Latinx mothers whose babies were admitted to the NICU before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. These sources of stress were used as predictors of maternal depressive symptoms, anxiety and NICU stress. We hypothesize that the Pandemic would add a significant amount of both pandemic and cumulative stress and that these differences will exacerbate mental health symptoms (depression and anxiety) and the stress associated with having the infant in the NICU.

Methods / Participants
We recalled a cohort of 200 Puerto Rican mothers whose infants were admitted into the NICU at the University of Puerto Rico Pediatric Hospital, San Juan Medical Center. Half of the sample was interviewed during pre-COVID times (May 2018 - Dec 2019) while the other half were during the COVID-19 pandemic (Jan 2020 - Aug 2022). Interviews were conducted by trained research assistants and lasted around 30-45 minutes. Assessment of the pandemic related stress was done with an adaptation of the Covid-19 Pandemic Mental Health Questionnaire (CoPaQ). Cumulative stress during the last twelve months was assessed by using an adaptation of the Cumulative Stressor Inventory (CSI). Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess depressive symptoms; State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) assessed anxiety, and the Parental Stressor Scale NICU (PSS:NICU) was used to measure mothers perceived stress in the NICU. Statistical analyses will be conducted using IBM-SPSS 28.0. Descriptive statistics will be calculated and chi-square tests will be performed to compare maternal demographic and infant medical complications of each group. If the groups differ in these variables, these variables will be entered first in the multilevel analyses. Next, each stress measure (pandemic and cumulative stress) will independently be added to predict depression, anxiety, and NICU stress.

Anticipated results
We expect to find an increase in the levels of maternal depressive symptoms, anxiety and NICU stress as a function of being exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic stress and the increase in the cumulative stress.

Discussion
If our hypotheses are confirmed, routine measures of maternal stress and mental health might be needed in the NICU environment. These results would suggest the need to implement a higher support system in and outside the NICU for these mothers in times of natural hazards. If no additional support is provided to these mothers in their personal life and in the NICU environment, we could foresee future complications in the mother-infant relation and the development of the infant.

Authors

• Edmarie Sánchez Cintrón, University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus
  Presenting Author

• Andrea C. Morales Dávila, University of Puerto Rico

• Andrea N. Cabrer Masquida, University of Puerto Rico

• Katisha Pastor, Albizu University, San Juan

• Cynthia Teresa García Coll, University of Puerto Rico

• José Martínez, Albizu University, San Juan

• Polaris Gonzalez-Barrios, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus

• Zayhara Reyes Bou, University of Puerto Rico

• Inés García, University of Puerto Rico

• Lourdes García Fragoso, University of Puerto Rico