The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Mothers and Newborns

 Early results are expected in less than 12 months and will help bridge a critical gap in research. Indeed, “in general, studies that have assessed the psychological impact of confinement or quarantine in the context of previous epidemics (SARS, MERS and Ebola) have focused on specific professional groups and general health, but none have investigated periods of high vulnerability such as pregnancy or early childhood”, reports the researcher. “Similarly, studies on maternal stress and infant neurodevelopment are few, small, and limited to a short follow-up period.” The findings of this project will provide novel evidence of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of mothers and newborns, two vulnerable subpopulations that disease management policies have previously overlooked.