Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic affected access to healthcare and social support. This especially impacted vulnerable populations like pregnant and postpartum women. PURPOSE: The specific aims of the project are the following: (1) examine the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy experiences and outcomes; (2) examine the mental health impact of COVID-19 in pregnant women and mothers of children 12 months or younger; (3) identify risk and protective factors among this population in Puerto Rico. METHODS: Participants were recruited from the Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) cohort, which is composed of pregnant women and mothers from the northern karst region of Puerto Rico. This research has a mixed methods approach with a quantitative survey (n = 184) and qualitative interviews (n = 10); data collection was performed remotely. FINDINGS: Results from the survey (n = 184) show that 20% of the cohort gave birth alone, 39% were separated from their baby after birth, 21% experienced isolation before birth, and 20% were separated after birth. In the study, 54% of the women were very worried about giving COVID-19 to their baby and avoided going out, receiving visits, and even canceling baby showers. The most reported sources of stress were their health status, work situation, and childcare, while the most reported coping mechanisms were watching TV or playing video games, using social media, and talking with loved ones. Forty-two percent reported that they frequently stopped enjoying activities that used to make them happy, and only 21% considered seeking mental health support. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 restrictions changed initial plans for baby showers, births, and childcare, and impacted the participants' mental health. Physical distance measures have resulted in isolation and stress. We expect these findings to lead to developing interventions for community health centers and parents/caretakers in Puerto Rico.