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Impact of Facebook on Social Support and Emotional Wellbeing in Perinatal Women during Three Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

Author

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  • Ma. Asunción Lara

    (Dirección de Investigaciones Epidemiológicas y Psicosociales, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Ciudad de México 14370, México)

  • Laura Navarrete

    (Dirección de Investigaciones Epidemiológicas y Psicosociales, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Ciudad de México 14370, México)

  • Erica Medina

    (Dirección de Investigaciones Epidemiológicas y Psicosociales, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Ciudad de México 14370, México)

  • Pamela Patiño

    (Dirección de Investigaciones Epidemiológicas y Psicosociales, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Ciudad de México 14370, México)

  • Marcela Tiburcio

    (Dirección de Investigaciones Epidemiológicas y Psicosociales, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Ciudad de México 14370, México)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of pregnant and postpartum women in unique, unprecedented ways. Given the impossibility of delivering face-to-face care, digital platforms emerged as a first-line solution to provide emotional support. This qualitative study sought to examine the role that a closed Facebook group (CFG) played in providing social support for Mexican perinatal women and to explore the concerns they shared during the COVID-19 pandemic. A thematic analysis of all the posts in the CFG yielded nine main categories: (1) COVID-19 infections in participants and their families; (2) fear of infection; (3) infection prevention; (4) health services; (5) vaccines; (6) concerns about non-COVID-19-related health care; (7) effects of social isolation; (8) probable mental health cases; and (9) work outside the home. Participants faced stressful situations and demands that caused intense fear and worry. In addition to household tasks and perinatal care, they were responsible for adopting COVID-19 preventive measures and caring for infected family members. The main coping mechanism was their religious faith. The CFG was found to be a useful forum for supporting perinatal women, where they could share concerns, resolve doubts, and obtain information in a warm, compassionate, and empathetic atmosphere. Health providers would be advised to seek new social media to improve the quality of their services.

Suggested Citation

  • Ma. Asunción Lara & Laura Navarrete & Erica Medina & Pamela Patiño & Marcela Tiburcio, 2023. "Impact of Facebook on Social Support and Emotional Wellbeing in Perinatal Women during Three Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico: A Descriptive Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:2472-:d:1051614
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nadya Y. Rivera Rivera & Laura McGuinn & Erika Osorio-Valencia & Sandra Martinez-Medina & Lourdes Schnaas & Rosalind J. Wright & Martha Maria Téllez-Rojo & Robert O. Wright & Marcela Tamayo-Ortiz & Ma, 2021. "Changes in Depressive Symptoms, Stress and Social Support in Mexican Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-11, August.
    2. Blanca Vianey Suárez-Rico & Guadalupe Estrada-Gutierrez & Maribel Sánchez-Martínez & Otilia Perichart-Perera & Carolina Rodríguez-Hernández & Carla González-Leyva & Erika Osorio-Valencia & Arturo Card, 2021. "Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Perceived Stress in Postpartum Mexican Women during the COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-9, April.
    3. Yupeng Luo & Kui Zhang & Mengxue Huang & Changjian Qiu, 2022. "Risk factors for depression and anxiety in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(3), pages 1-13, March.
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    Keywords

    perinatal; COVID-19; Facebook;
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