IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i4p1975-d746003.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Experiences of Perinatal Mental Health Care among Minority Ethnic Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic in London: A Qualitative Study

Author

Listed:
  • Sabrina Pilav

    (Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Bexley Bromley and Greenwich Perinatal Mental Health Service, Queen Mary’s Hospital, London DA14 6LT, UK)

  • Abigail Easter

    (Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Kings College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
    Section of Women’s Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK)

  • Sergio A. Silverio

    (Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Kings College London, London SE1 7EH, UK)

  • Kaat De Backer

    (Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Kings College London, London SE1 7EH, UK)

  • Sushma Sundaresh

    (Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Bexley Bromley and Greenwich Perinatal Mental Health Service, Queen Mary’s Hospital, London DA14 6LT, UK)

  • Sara Roberts

    (Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Bexley Bromley and Greenwich Perinatal Mental Health Service, Queen Mary’s Hospital, London DA14 6LT, UK)

  • Louise M. Howard

    (Section of Women’s Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK)

Abstract

(1) Background: Approximately one in five women will experience mental health difficulties in the perinatal period. Women from ethnic minority backgrounds face a variety of barriers that can prevent or delay access to appropriate perinatal mental health care. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions created additional obstacles for this group of women. This study aims to explore minority ethnic women’s experiences of perinatal mental health services during COVID-19 in London. (2) Methods: Eighteen women from ethnic minority backgrounds were interviewed, and data were subject to a thematic analysis. (3) Results: Three main themes were identified, each with two subthemes: ‘Difficulties and Disruptions to Access’ (Access to Appointments; Pandemic Restrictions and Disruption), ‘Experiences of Remote Delivery’ (Preference for Face-to-Face Contact; Advantages of Remote Support); and ‘Psychosocial Experiences’ linked to COVID-19 (Heightened Anxiety; Social Isolation). (4) Conclusions: Women from ethnic minority backgrounds experienced disrupted perinatal mental health care and COVID-19 restrictions compounding their mental health difficulties. Services should take women’s circumstances into account and provide flexibility regarding remote delivery of care.

Suggested Citation

  • Sabrina Pilav & Abigail Easter & Sergio A. Silverio & Kaat De Backer & Sushma Sundaresh & Sara Roberts & Louise M. Howard, 2022. "Experiences of Perinatal Mental Health Care among Minority Ethnic Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic in London: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:1975-:d:746003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/4/1975/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/4/1975/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Debanjan Banerjee & Mayank Rai, 2020. "Social isolation in Covid-19: The impact of loneliness," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 66(6), pages 525-527, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Daniela Huber & Johanna Freidl & Christina Pichler & Michael Bischof & Martin Kiem & Renate Weisböck-Erdheim & Gabriella Squarra & Vincenzo De Nigris & Stefan Resnyak & Marcel Neberich & Susanna Bordi, 2023. "Long-Term Effects of Mountain Hiking vs. Forest Therapy on Physical and Mental Health of Couples: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-20, January.
    2. Becky Leshem & Gabriela Kashy-Rosenbaum & Miriam Schiff & Rami Benbenishty & Ruth Pat-Horenczyk, 2023. "Continuous Exposure to Terrorism during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Moderated Mediation Model in the Israeli Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Michelle W. T. Cheng & Man-Lai Leung & Christina W. M. Yu & Kevin K. M. Yue & Elaine S. C. Liu & Samuel K. W. Chu, 2021. "Sustaining Healthy Staying Communities in University Residential Halls amid Unprecedented Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Katarzyna Boratynska, 2021. "Determinants of Economic Fragility in Central and Eastern European Countries FsQCA Approach," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3B), pages 827-837.
    5. Leida Ruvina, 2021. "Science as Interdisciplinary Analysis of Temporary and Unstable Features, and Norbert Elias’ Relational Perspective of Fear, Violence and State," European Journal of Social Sciences Education and Research Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 8, May - Aug.
    6. Katarzyna Boratyńska, 2021. "A New Approach for Risk of Corporate Bankruptcy Assessment during the COVID-19 Pandemic," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-14, December.
    7. Yiu Tung Suen & Randolph CH Chan & Eliz Miu Yin Wong, 2023. "Association between co-residence and loneliness during COVID-19 among sexual minority people in Hong Kong," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(2), pages 483-492, March.
    8. Ka Ming Chow & Bernard M.H. Law & Marques S.N. Ng & Dorothy N.S. Chan & Winnie K.W. So & Cho Lee Wong & Carmen W.H. Chan, 2020. "A Review of Psychological Issues among Patients and Healthcare Staff during Two Major Coronavirus Disease Outbreaks in China: Contributory Factors and Management Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-17, September.
    9. Matylda Sierakowska & Halina Doroszkiewicz, 2022. "Psychosocial Determinants of Loneliness in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, September.
    10. Sung Man Bae, 2023. "The Association between Adverse Childhood and Adulthood Experiences, Social Isolation, Loneliness, and Depression among Young Adults in South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(19), pages 1-11, October.
    11. Aracil-Jordá, Jorge & Clemente-Almendros, Jose-Antonio & Jiménez-Zarco, Ana-Isabel & González-González, Inés, 2023. "Improving the social performance of women-led microenterprises: The role of social media marketing actions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    12. Angel M. Dzhambov & Peter Lercher & Drozdstoy Stoyanov & Nadezhda Petrova & Stoyan Novakov & Donka D. Dimitrova, 2021. "University Students’ Self-Rated Health in Relation to Perceived Acoustic Environment during the COVID-19 Home Quarantine," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-21, March.
    13. Olivier Torrès & Alexandre Benzari & Christian Fisch & Jinia Mukerjee & Abdelaziz Swalhi & Roy Thurik, 2022. "Risk of burnout in French entrepreneurs during the COVID-19 crisis," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 717-739, February.
    14. Kung, Claryn S.J. & Kunz, Johannes S. & Shields, Michael A., 2023. "COVID-19 lockdowns and changes in loneliness among young people in the U.K," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    15. Franca Spatafora & Paula M. Matos Fialho & Heide Busse & Stefanie M. Helmer & Hajo Zeeb & Christiane Stock & Claus Wendt & Claudia R. Pischke, 2022. "Fear of Infection and Depressive Symptoms among German University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-15, January.
    16. Maksim Belitski & Christina Guenther & Alexander S. Kritikos & Roy Thurik, 2022. "Economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on entrepreneurship and small businesses," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 593-609, February.
    17. Kung, Claryn S.J. & Pudney, Stephen E. & Shields, Michael A., 2022. "Economic gradients in loneliness, social isolation and social support: Evidence from the UK Biobank," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 306(C).
    18. Micaela Di Consiglio & Sheila Merola & Tiziana Pascucci & Cristiano Violani & Alessandro Couyoumdjian, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Italian University Students’ Mental Health: Changes across the Waves," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-13, September.
    19. Ayse Nuray Karanci & Gözde Ikizer & İlknur Dilekler Aldemir & Ayça Bilgehan & Cansu Karagöz, 2023. "How did the Covid-19 pandemic affect individuals with schizophrenia from Turkey?," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 69(2), pages 277-285, March.
    20. Shisei Tei & Junya Fujino, 2022. "Social ties, fears and bias during the COVID-19 pandemic: Fragile and flexible mindsets," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:1975-:d:746003. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.