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Maternal Mental Health under COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand

Author

Listed:
  • Wachiranun Sirikul

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand)

  • Krongporn Ongprasert

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand)

  • Chanodom Piankusol

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand)

  • Penprapa Siviroj

    (Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand)

Abstract

Numerous nations have implemented lockdown measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a consequence of the lockdown on daily living, social participation, and health service accessibility, vulnerable people, for example, new mothers, may experience an increase in mental health problems. This cross-sectional survey was conducted to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on Thai new mothers and the variables affecting their mental health. The survey data were collected from 903 Thai mothers with infants aged 0–12 months using an online platform and a face-to-face interview questionnaire survey between 17 July and 17 October 2020, during the first nationwide COVID-19 lockdown period. For the final analysis, there were 862 participants who completed all of the questions. The full exploratory analysis was performed by multivariable linear regression to identify the variables influencing maternal mental health. Our study demonstrated that new mothers reported feeling a high extent to some extent of worry (44.9%), increased appetite (40.4%), becoming easily annoyed or irritable (39.1%), and feeling down (33.5%), whereas 82.7% felt able to cope with the first lockdown situation. Practiced relaxation techniques were associated with positive maternal mental health (adjusted β = 1.05, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.52, p < 0.001). The perceived impact of the COVID-19 lockdown was on the household’s ability to pay for rent, to make mortgage payments (adjusted β = −1.59, 95% CI −2.87 to −0.36, p = 0.011), the household’s ability to pay for other essentials, such as utilities and medication (adjusted β = −1.99, 95% CI −3.16 to −0.81, p = 0.001), household crowding after lockdown (adjusted β = −3.46, 95% CI −4.86 to −2.06, p < 0.001), and not going outside or doing outdoor activities (adjusted β = −2.22, 95% CI −3.35 to −1.08, p < 0.001). These impacts were significantly associated with negative mental health. In conclusion, our results emphasize the critical need for continuous monitoring of maternal mental health and developing an effective response strategy and activity for promoting maternal mental health under the stress of repetitive lockdowns and increased economic pressures.

Suggested Citation

  • Wachiranun Sirikul & Krongporn Ongprasert & Chanodom Piankusol & Penprapa Siviroj, 2021. "Maternal Mental Health under COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2021:i:1:p:347-:d:714014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Adams-Prassl, A. & Boneva, T. & Golin, M & Rauh, C., 2020. "The Impact of the Coronavirus Lockdown on Mental Health: Evidence from the US," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2037, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    2. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
    3. Chanodom Piankusol & Wachiranun Sirikul & Krongporn Ongprasert & Penprapa Siviroj, 2021. "Factors Affecting Breastfeeding Practices under Lockdown during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-11, August.
    4. James Banks & Xiaowei Xu, 2020. "The Mental Health Effects of the First Two Months of Lockdown during the COVID‐19 Pandemic in the UK," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 41(3), pages 685-708, September.
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