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Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3470-4511
AccessType
Campus-Only Access for One (1) Year
Document Type
dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Degree Program
Public Health
Year Degree Awarded
2023
Month Degree Awarded
September
First Advisor
Elena T. Carbone
Second Advisor
Gloria E. Otoo
Third Advisor
Sarah Gonzalez-Nahm
Fourth Advisor
Jessica Pearlman
Subject Categories
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | International and Community Nutrition | International Public Health | Maternal and Child Health | Nutrition | Nutritional Epidemiology | Public Health | Public Health Education and Promotion | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Women's Health
Abstract
Maternal and child health services improve health literacy, birth outcomes and infant feeding in the postpartum period. However, disruptions resulting from COVID-19-related restrictions have caused changes in dietary and lifestyle habits of mothers. Also, the psychosocial impacts of the pandemic have exacerbated maternal and child health outcomes, especially in resource-deprived environments. This project examined impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal health, pregnancy outcomes, and infant health, while pilot testing strategies for delivering remote nutrition and health education to mothers in Ghana. In chapter 1, the theoretical and conceptual framework and methodological approach for the study aims are outlined. Study 1 (Chapter 2) presents a narrative literature review of the impacts of the pandemic on maternal and child health and nutrition. We examined the literature on the role of COVID-19-related psychosocial health on maternal nutritional status and infant feeding practices, as well as impacts on access to maternal and child health services during the perinatal period. We also explored literature on the antenatal and telehealth care frameworks in Ghana. For Study 2 (chapter 3), an online survey of 221 Ghanaian mother-infant dyads was conducted. Using mixed methods, mothers were asked about their perceived stress and anxiety during their pregnancy, and their dietary and lifestyle practices. There was no statistically significant association between COVID-related anxiety and infant minimum dietary diversity (aOR 0.974 CI 0.817-1.162), however social support was independently and positively associated with infant dietary diversity (aOR=2.873 CI 1.173-7.037). For Study 3 (chapter 4), a subset of 65 women were provided a remote 6-week, intensive nutrition education intervention focused on improving maternal and child dietary diversity and health literacy in women. We found that both maternal and infant dietary diversity significantly increased at the end of the intervention (0.78 and 0.71 food groups respectively). Health literacy in women increased by 0.23 points. Ultimately, the overall goal of this project and pilot test is to provide necessary evidence required for future studies examining the long-term impact of the pandemic on maternal and child health, while identifying opportunities for mitigating them through remote provision of nutrition education services.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7275/35993792
Recommended Citation
Ayande, Ruthfirst E. A., "PREPARE* Project: Examining Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Maternal Health and Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices. *PREPARE: Perinatal Remote Education for Pandemic Resilience" (2023). Doctoral Dissertations. 2949.
https://doi.org/10.7275/35993792
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_2/2949
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License