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Written by: Commentary Editing Room
2020-11-07 06:30
Last update date: 2020-11-07 06:30
During the new crown pneumonia epidemic, public hospitals in Hong Kong suspended visits and paternity under the emergency response level, and the proportion of paternity was reduced from 88.8% last year to 21.8% at the beginning of the year.
Pregnant women are not accompanied by their husbands when they give birth. A research team from a public hospital has found that the measures have caused more mothers to have symptoms of postpartum depression, and the mental health of pregnant women under the gloom of the epidemic is also of concern.
Public hospitals in Hong Kong suspended visits and paternity under the emergency response level, and the proportion of paternity was reduced from 88.8% last year to 21.8% at the beginning of the year.
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Staying alone in the hospital may increase postpartum depression
The team analyzed the data of a total of 4,357 pregnant women from January last year to April this year.
According to the "Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS)", the study scored the maternal. It was found that since the public hospital activated the "Severe Response Level" on January 4 this year in response to the epidemic, the maternal "EPDS" score has increased significantly.
The proportion of mothers with a depression index higher than 10 points on the day after childbirth increased from 11.9% to 14.4%, reflecting that more mothers had symptoms of postpartum depression. The team believes that the epidemic may evoke the memory of SARS in 2003, and changes in social habits have caused depression Index increase.
During the epidemic, mothers have to worry about being threatened by the virus. Before and after delivery, they also lack the company of their relatives because of the restrictions on visiting after the hospital has activated the "severe response level."
The postpartum depression of pregnant women increases, which just shows that the companionship of relatives is very important for them to combat stress.
The bureau can follow the research team’s recommendations to arrange early postpartum discharge of women from the hospital and arrange video interviews for women’s relatives. It is also necessary to consider studying and allowing their relatives to visit in person as appropriate, so that their relatives can accompany them to greet the birth of the baby and assist Those with depression symptoms regained their emotions.
Although this study only found that the inability of relatives to accompany childbirth under the epidemic will increase women’s postpartum depression, in the long run, we need to pay more attention to the lack of overall emotional support services.
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The government should improve emotional support packages
Although this study only found that pregnant women hospitalized under the epidemic may worsen postpartum depression because their relatives cannot accompany the childbirth, in the long run, we need to pay more attention to the lack of overall emotional support services in Hong Kong.
The epidemic that has lasted for nearly a year has undoubtedly caused various mental distress to different stakeholders in the society. The emotional pressure they face urgently needs the assistance of the Hospital Authority and other social welfare agencies to help reduce them. The government must study how to strengthen this aspect. support.
In August this year, the Department of Psychiatry of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong conducted a survey of more than 10,000 citizens and found that more than 70% and 40% of the respondents respectively had moderate to high symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
In order to help the general public to get out of the gloom of the epidemic mentally, the government should prepare to provide appropriate assistance to Hong Kong people suffering from mental or emotional problems during this period, such as increasing community emotional counseling services through subsidies or grants, and arranging for pregnant women and other people. Groups with a greater potential for depression can take the initiative to provide support, so as to avoid another wave of emotional illness among the citizens in addition to the new crown pneumonia epidemic.
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New Coronary Pneumonia Postpartum Depression 01 Viewpoint