The Impact and Lived Experience of Covid-19 Restrictions for Vulnerable Children and Families in a Low-Income Irish Community

IF 1.1 Q3 FAMILY STUDIES

Child Care in Practice Pub Date : 2022-09-26 DOI:10.1080/13575279.2022.2104218

Margaret Curtin, M. O’Shea, C. Hayes

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引用次数: 2

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted on all aspects of life. The physical health burden predominately impacts adults. However, the psychological burden has impacted significantly on the development and wellbeing of babies and young children. The aim of this research was to explore the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on vulnerable children (aged 0–6) and their families who were registered with a prevention and early intervention programme in an area of socio-economic disadvantage in southern Ireland. Methods: A convenience sample of 15 mothers were contacted by the staff from the multidisciplinary Infant Mental Health home visiting team. All participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. Two scales, the UCLA 3-Item Loneliness Scale and the Parental Stress Scale were included. A focus group was conducted with the home visiting team. Results: Parental concerns for their children related to six categories: altered behaviour; lack of services; social isolation; missed school; mental health; and physical health. Concerning behaviours regarding developmental regression, feeding, self-regulation, sleep and worrying new behaviours such as repetitive hand washing were reported. 27% of families experienced hunger during lockdown and staff raised concerns regarding substandard housing. Delayed or cancelled medical appointments included speech and occupational therapy, and developmental assessment. Loneliness and isolation were issues for parents. 67% scored greater than five on the loneliness scale. The mean stress score was 44 (range 37–56). Staff raised concerns regarding maternal mental health and highlighted the lack of services for parents. Conclusion: Covid 19 has had a disproportionate impact on vulnerable children. There is evidence of regression and issues regarding self-regulation and socio-emotional development. Lack of services and the offering of alternative appointments by phone resulted in loss of the crucial face-to-face contact with services. The pandemic has exacerbated inequalities in the early years and this is a crisis in the making.

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Covid-19限制对低收入爱尔兰社区弱势儿童和家庭的影响和生活经验

摘要背景：新冠肺炎疫情已经影响到生活的方方面面。身体健康负担主要影响成年人。然而，心理负担对婴儿和幼儿的发展和福祉产生了重大影响。这项研究的目的是探讨新冠肺炎限制措施对在爱尔兰南部社会经济不利地区注册了预防和早期干预计划的弱势儿童（0至6岁）及其家人的影响。方法：来自多学科婴儿心理健康家访小组的工作人员联系了15名母亲。所有人都参加了半结构化的电话采访。包括两个量表，加州大学洛杉矶分校三项孤独感量表和父母压力量表。与主队进行了焦点小组讨论。结果：父母对子女的关注涉及六类：行为改变；缺乏服务；社会孤立；缺课；心理健康；以及身体健康。关于发育退化、进食、自我调节、睡眠和令人担忧的新行为，如重复洗手。27%的家庭在封锁期间经历了饥饿，工作人员对不合标准的住房表示担忧。延迟或取消的医疗预约包括言语和职业治疗以及发育评估。孤独和孤立是父母的问题。67%的人在孤独感量表上得分超过5分。平均压力评分为44（范围为37-56）。工作人员对产妇的心理健康表示关切，并强调缺乏对父母的服务。结论：新冠肺炎19对弱势儿童产生了不成比例的影响。有证据表明，在自我调节和社会情绪发展方面存在倒退和问题。由于缺乏服务和通过电话提供替代预约，导致失去了与服务的关键面对面联系。疫情在早期加剧了不平等，这是一场正在形成的危机。

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来源期刊

Child Care in Practice Nursing-Community and Home Care

CiteScore

3.30

自引率

5.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： Child Care in Practice is a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal that provides an international forum for professionals working in all disciplines in the provision of children’s services, including social work, social care, health care, medicine, psychology, education, the police and probationary services, and solicitors and barristers working in the family law and youth justice sectors. The strategic aims and objectives of the journal are: • To develop the knowledge base of practitioners, managers and other professionals responsible for the delivery of professional child care services. The journal seeks to contribute to the achievement of quality services and the promotion of the highest standards. • To achieve an equity of input from all disciplines working with children. The multi-disciplinary nature of the journal reflects that the key to many successful outcomes in the child care field lies in the close co-operation between different disciplines. • To raise awareness of often-neglected issues such as marginalization of ethnic minorities and problems consequent upon poverty and disability. • To keep abreast of and continue to influence local and international child care practice in response to emerging policy. • To include the views of those who are in receipt of multi-disciplinary child care services. • To welcome submissions on promising practice developments and the findings from new research to highlight the breadth of the work of the journal’s work.