Citation:

Fortune Afi Agbi, Zhou Lulin, Eric Owusu Asamoah. "Exploring the Challenges and Stressors Faced by First-Time Mothers in Ghana as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic" International Research Journal of Economics and Management Studies, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 111-123, 2023.

Abstract:

First-time mothers in Ghana are not exempt from the COVID-19 pandemic's considerable changes and difficulties, which have included disruptions in employment, education, and daily activities. First-time mothers in Ghana were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These challenges were compounded for first-time mothers, who were experiencing the stressors associated with pregnancy and the postpartum period while also dealing with the pandemic's impact on social support, healthcare services, and economic stability. This study looked into how the COVID-19 epidemic affected the mental health and general wellbeing of first-time moms in Ghana. This study employed a mixed-method approach to investigate the experiences and perspectives of first-time moms in Ghana regarding the influence of the pandemic on their mental health and general well-being. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on first-time moms was the dependent variable, and multiple regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between the independent variables, such as social support and access to healthcare services, and the dependent variable. The results showed that about 80% of first-time mothers had elevated stress and anxiety, including postpartum depression, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. The study's findings aid in the creation of focused treatments to help first-time moms' mental health and wellbeing both during and after the epidemic. While preparing for a future of inclusive and equitable maternity care, healthcare systems can priorities safe and accessible maternity care both during and after the pandemic. The study emphasizes the significance of health supports and services that may easily change to accommodate new parents' requirements.

References:

[1] Adebayo, C. T., Parcell, E. S., Mkandawire-Valhmu, L., & Olukotun, O. (2022). African American Women’s maternal healthcare experiences: a Critical Race Theory perspective. Health Communication, 37(9), 1135-1146.
[2] Adler, H. M. (2002). The sociophysiology of caring in the doctor-patient relationship. Journal of general internal medicine, 17(11), 883-890.
[3] Adom, D., Mensah, J. A., & Osei, M. (2021). The psychological distress and mental health disorders from COVID-19 stigmatization in Ghana. Social sciences & humanities open, 4(1), 100186.
[4] Aduhene, D. T., & Osei-Assibey, E. (2021). Socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on Ghana's economy: challenges and prospects. International Journal of Social Economics.
[5] Agbi, F. A. (2021). Responsiveness in Ghanaian Healthcare: The Survey of Inpatients. International Journal of Public Administration, 1-10. doi:10.1080/01900692.2021.2016827
[6] Agbi, F. A., Lulin, Z., Asamoah, E. O., & Kissi, J. (2022). The Importance of Empathy in Maternal Healthcare Delivery. American Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 7(2), 56-68.
[7] Agbi, F. A., Lvlin, Z., & Asamoah, E. O. (2021a). Women's Satisfaction with Maternal care in Ghana : The Doctor's Behaviour as a Regulating Factor. International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology, 8(5), 332-344. doi:http://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRST218539
[8] Agbi, F. A., Lvlin, Z., & Asamoah, E. O. (2021b). Women’s Satisfaction with Maternal care in Ghana: The Doctor’s Behaviour as a Regulating Factor.
[9] Ahinkorah, B. O., Hagan Jr, J. E., Ameyaw, E. K., Seidu, A.-A., & Schack, T. (2021). COVID-19 pandemic worsening gender inequalities for women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa. Frontiers in Global Women's Health, 2, 686984.
[10] Ahmad, M., & Vismara, L. (2021). The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on women’s mental health during pregnancy: A rapid evidence review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(13), 7112.
[11] Ampofo, E. T., Ampomah, R., Amissah-Reynolds, P. K., Owusu, S. E., & Opoku-Manu, M. (2020). The Upsurge of COVID-19 Cases Amidst the Reopening of Schools in Ghana: The Role of Teachers as Frontline Workers. Education, 8(3), 93-99.
[12] Andrikopoulou, M., Madden, N., Wen, T., Aubey, J. J., Aziz, A., Baptiste, C. D., . . . Goffman, D. (2020). Symptoms and critical illness among obstetric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 136(2), 291-299.
[13] Appiah-Kubi, S., Mao, W., Koduah, A., Aryeetey, G. C., Ogbuoji, O., & Nonvignon, J. (2022). Perspectives of frontline health workers on transition from development assistance for health in Ghana: A qualitative study. PLOS Global Public Health, 2(4), e0000093.
[14] Birmeta, K., Dibaba, Y., & Woldeyohannes, D. (2013). Determinants of maternal health care utilization in Holeta town, central Ethiopia. BMC Health Services Research, 13(1), 1-10.
[15] Boateng, G. O., Doku, D. T., Enyan, N. I. E., Owusu, S. A., Aboh, I. K., Kodom, R. V., . . . Obiri-Yeboah, D. (2021). Prevalence and changes in boredom, anxiety and well-being among Ghanaians during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based study. BMC Public Health, 21(1), 985.
[16] Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative research in sport, exercise and health, 11(4), 589-597.
[17] Cameron, E. E., Joyce, K. M., Delaquis, C. P., Reynolds, K., Protudjer, J. L., & Roos, L. E. (2020). Maternal psychological distress & mental health service use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of affective disorders, 276, 765-774.
[18] Cullen, W., Gulati, G., & Kelly, B. D. (2020). Mental health in the COVID-19 pandemic. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, 113(5), 311-312.
[19] Defina, D., & Rizkillah, R. (2021). Problems, stress, social support, and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic: Case of international college students in Indonesia. Jurnal Ilmu Keluarga & Konsumen, 14(3), 282-295.
[20] Di Toro, F., Gjoka, M., Di Lorenzo, G., De Santo, D., De Seta, F., Maso, G., . . . Levi-D'Ancona, R. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on maternal and neonatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 27(1), 36-46.
[21] Dong, Y., Chi, X., Hai, H., Sun, L., Zhang, M., Xie, W.-F., & Chen, W. (2020). Antibodies in the breast milk of a maternal woman with COVID-19. Emerging microbes & infections, 9(1), 1467-1469.
[22] Durizzo, K., Asiedu, E., Van der Merwe, A., Van Niekerk, A., & Günther, I. (2021). Managing the COVID-19 pandemic in poor urban neighborhoods: The case of Accra and Johannesburg. World Development, 137, 105175.
[23] Fisher, J., Languilaire, J.-C., Lawthom, R., Nieuwenhuis, R., Petts, R. J., Runswick-Cole, K., & Yerkes, M. A. (2020). Community, work, and family in times of COVID-19. Community, Work & Family, 23(3), 247-252.
[24] Frimpong-Manso, K., Tagoe, I., & Mawutor, S. M. (2020). Experiences of formal foster parents in Ghana: Motivations and challenges. Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development, 32(1), 1-18.
[25] Gao, Z., Xu, Y., Sun, C., Wang, X., Guo, Y., Qiu, S., & Ma, K. (2021). A systematic review of asymptomatic infections with COVID-19. Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection, 54(1), 12-16.
[26] Liu, H., Dong, B., & Yen, P.-Y. (2022). Virtual Reality in Patient-Physician Relationships. In Cases on Virtual Reality Modeling in Healthcare (pp. 63- 84): IGI Global.
[27] Organization, W. H. (2023). Universal health coverage partnership annual report 2021: health systems strengthening and health emergencies beyond COVID-19.
[28] Park, S., Greene, M. C., Melby, M. K., Fujiwara, T., & Surkan, P. J. (2021). Postpartum depressive symptoms as a mediator between intimate partner violence during pregnancy and maternal-infant bonding in Japan. Journal of interpersonal violence, 36(19-20), NP10545-NP10571.
[29] Preis, H., Mahaffey, B., Heiselman, C., & Lobel, M. (2020). Vulnerability and resilience to pandemic-related stress among US women pregnant at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social science & medicine, 266, 113348.
[30] Rajkumar, R. P. (2020). COVID-19 and mental health: A review of the existing literature. Asian journal of psychiatry, 52, 102066.
[31] Shi, P., Dong, Y., Yan, H., Zhao, C., Li, X., Liu, W., . . . Xi, S. (2020). Impact of temperature on the dynamics of the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Science of the total environment, 728, 138890.
[32] Spinelli, M., Lionetti, F., Pastore, M., & Fasolo, M. (2020). Parents' stress and children's psychological problems in families facing the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 1713.
[33] Sylverken, A. A., Owusu, M., Agbavor, B., Kwarteng, A., Ayisi-Boateng, N. K., Ofori, P., . . . Addo Asamoah, J. (2022). Using drones to transport suspected COVID-19 samples; experiences from the second largest testing centre in Ghana, West Africa. Plos one, 17(11), e0277057.
[34] Thayer, Z. M., & Gildner, T. E. (2021). COVID‐19‐related financial stress associated with higher likelihood of depression among pregnant women living in the United States. American Journal of Human Biology, 33(3), e23508.
[35] Tully, K. P., Stuebe, A. M., & Verbiest, S. B. (2017). The fourth trimester: a critical transition period with unmet maternal health needs. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 217(1), 37-41.
[36] Yatirajula, S. K., Kallakuri, S., Paslawar, S., Mukherjee, A., Bhattacharya, A., Chatterjee, S., . . . Raman, U. (2022). An intervention to reduce stigma and improve management of depression, risk of suicide/self-harm and other significant emotional or medically unexplained complaints among adolescents living in urban slums: protocol for the ARTEMIS project. Trials, 23(1), 1-15.
[37] Zhai, P., Ding, Y., Wu, X., Long, J., Zhong, Y., & Li, Y. (2020). The epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. International journal of antimicrobial agents, 55(5), 105955.

Keywords:

COVID-19 pandemic; Mental Health; First-time mothers; Ghana; Postpartum Period; Social Support; Healthcare Services; Economic Stability.