Experiences of Perinatal Mental Health Care among Minority Ethnic Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic in London: A Qualitative Study

Sabrina Pilav, Abigail Easter, Sergio A. Silverio, Kaat De Backer, Sushma Sundaresh, Sara Roberts and Louise M. Howard
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Sabrina Pilav: Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Bexley Bromley and Greenwich Perinatal Mental Health Service, Queen Mary’s Hospital, London DA14 6LT, UK
Abigail Easter: Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Kings College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
Sergio A. Silverio: Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Kings College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
Kaat De Backer: Department of Women and Children’s Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Kings College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
Sushma Sundaresh: Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Bexley Bromley and Greenwich Perinatal Mental Health Service, Queen Mary’s Hospital, London DA14 6LT, UK
Sara Roberts: Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Bexley Bromley and Greenwich Perinatal Mental Health Service, Queen Mary’s Hospital, London DA14 6LT, UK
Louise M. Howard: Section of Women’s Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: (1) Background: Approximately one in five women will experience mental health difficulties in the perinatal period. Women from ethnic minority backgrounds face a variety of barriers that can prevent or delay access to appropriate perinatal mental health care. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions created additional obstacles for this group of women. This study aims to explore minority ethnic women’s experiences of perinatal mental health services during COVID-19 in London. (2) Methods: Eighteen women from ethnic minority backgrounds were interviewed, and data were subject to a thematic analysis. (3) Results: Three main themes were identified, each with two subthemes: ‘Difficulties and Disruptions to Access’ (Access to Appointments; Pandemic Restrictions and Disruption), ‘Experiences of Remote Delivery’ (Preference for Face-to-Face Contact; Advantages of Remote Support); and ‘Psychosocial Experiences’ linked to COVID-19 (Heightened Anxiety; Social Isolation). (4) Conclusions: Women from ethnic minority backgrounds experienced disrupted perinatal mental health care and COVID-19 restrictions compounding their mental health difficulties. Services should take women’s circumstances into account and provide flexibility regarding remote delivery of care.

Keywords: COVID-19; perinatal mental health; minority ethnic women; maternity services; qualitative analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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