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A systematic review of Covid-19 affecting pregnant women in Newcastle upon Tyne: mental health issues and solutions.

Rationale

According to Trippella et al. (2020), coronavirus’s emergence presented significant difficulties for people by affecting different factors of their life. However, a lack of literature has been observed regarding the negative impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women. Hence, this study’s rationale is to bridge the gap in knowledge of healthcare professionals regarding the provision of effective services and care to pregnant women suffering from mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to this, the proposed dissertation will provide insight into how the current care-giving services should be structured to improve the mental health of pregnant women. While another rationale to conduct this study is that the findings from this research will help establish a database of efficient practice so that guidelines regarding pregnant women’s care are effectively followed by healthcare services.

Background

As per the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2021), coronavirus emerged in the year 2019 and then spread globally, disrupting significant life areas. Thus, to prevent the spread of the virus, various health policies, including isolation, total and partial lockdown and spatial distancing, began to be implemented by the public health authorities and the United Kingdom government. Capobianco et al. (2020) stated that the preventive measures imparted a negative effect on the mental health of the population while disrupting the public health systems. Based on this, it has been observed by Capobianco et al. (2020)that pregnant women have increased susceptibility towards stress and emotional instability. About this, pregnancy holds the potential to deepen the existing negative effects presented by the current COVID-19 pandemic (Trippella et al., 2020). A study by López-Morales et al. (2021) highlighted that pregnant women exhibit an increase in anxiety, depression and other psychopathological indicators while displaying a decrease in the positive effects. According to López-Morales et al (2021)Pregnant women dread the transmission and contamination of the infection to their infants and display concerns regarding their wellbeing. Furthermore, López-Morales et al (2021) suggest that the current safety measures have subjected them towards increased loneliness and social disengagement while further disrupting maternity-care practices. This has resulted in challenging the mental and emotional difficulties of pregnant women during their perinatal period. During and post-pregnancy, perinatal gloom is a highly recognised issue that imparts a significant impact on ladies, their new-born children, their accomplices and adds a further weight on their families. In relation to this, most pregnant women have moderate to mild symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, while some have also been admitted into the ICU (Capobianco et al., 2020).

As per the findings of Trippella et al. (2020), the negative impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women has resulted in 28% of incidences of prematurity along with two stillbirths. However, pregnant women affected with COVID-19 have displayed moderate to mild diseases with low mortality and morbidity rate. Concerning this, López-Morales et al. (2021) stated that it is essential for healthcare institutions dedicated to prenatal healthcare to better understand and information regarding the provision of effective services and care to these pregnant women improving their quality of life.

Research Aim

Research called “A review of Covid-19 affecting pregnant women in Newcastle upon Tyne: mental health issues and solutions.” aims to explore the challenges faced by pregnant women during the perinatal period.

Research Objectives

The objectives of this research are highlighted below:

• To explore the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women’s mental health in Newcastle and the possibility of developing a mental illness in the perinatal period.
• To analyse the methods of intervention and measures taken by the authorities to reduce the impact.
• To demonstrate the social, financial and emotional difficulties faced by these women and recommend measures to mitigate the negative impact on their families

Research Questions

The research aims to address the following research questions formulated to answer through the findings of the study. The questions are described below:

Q1: What is the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of pregnant women in Newcastle?

Q2: What are the measures taken to reduce the negative impact on pregnant women?

Q3: What are the financial, social and emotional challenges faced by pregnant women and what factors can be taken to mitigate their families’ negative impact?

Research Significance

The research is of prime significance to the healthcare providers, researchers and students within the healthcare system. This study’s extracts will enhance professionals’ awareness about pregnant women and the issues subjected to them due to COVID-19. According to López-Morales et al. (2021), the emergence of the COVID-19 is a challenge to the professionals involved in the monitoring and socio-medical treatment of pregnant women. Hence, the findings from this study will provide an insight into the possibility of pregnant women developing a mental illness in the perinatal period and the measures that can be taken by the healthcare professionals to reduce them.

Dissertation Outline

The dissertation is divided into five chapters: introduction, literature review, methodology, findings and discussion, and the last one, namely, conclusion and recommendations. The introduction offers a background on the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women and the possibility of them developing a mental illness in the perinatal period. It will present a rationale for the study while demonstrating the research’s objectives and questions along with its significance. Whereas, chapter two of the literature review conducts a review of existing literature on the research topic to seek evidence and clarify the nature of the proposed objectives. Chapter three of methodology reflects the research method, including the research approach, research philosophy, search strategy, and the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Furthermore, it discusses the ethical considerations along with the limitations witnessed during the research. On the other hand, chapter four of the findings and discussion presents an analysis of the study emanating from the research. Finally, the final chapter five of Conclusion and Recommendation presents a summary of the research and recommendations to further mitigate the negative impact of mental illness in pregnant women and their families in Newcastle upon Tyne.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]