Impacto da pandemia no acompanhamento de crianças nascidas de gestantes diagnosticadas com Covid-19: uma investigação de métodos mistos

Abstract

Objective: To understand the impact of the pandemic on monitoring in specialized services and the development of children born from mothers diagnosed with COVID-19, as well as to comprehend the family context in which they are embedded. Methods: A mixed-methods study, involving 14 children of both genders, aged 2 to 3 years, born from mothers exposed to COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. Participants underwent an initial screening for global developmental delay risk through the Survey of Wellbeing of Young Children, referred to as Stage 1. Subsequently, parents were contacted for a telephonic interview involving a semi-structured script to assess the adherence to specialized services and children's development (Stage 2). Quantitative data encompassed outcomes from both Stage 1 and 2, while qualitative data considered responses obtained through the semi-structured script. Descriptive statistical analyses were applied to quantitative results using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20.0; IBM SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA), and qualitative data underwent thematic analysis. Results: Among the 14 reassessed infants, 42.8% were at risk for global developmental delay during Stage 1, and in Stage 2, 57.1% of caregivers reported developmental delays. Only half of those initially identified as at risk in the initial assessment accessed specialized services. Of the 57.1% experiencing developmental delays in Stage 2, 50% had previously been classified as at risk in Stage 1. Among these, 75% were referred for follow-up in the multiprofessional service. Conclusion: The results highlight the pandemic as a factor contributing to delayed childhood development and reduced access to multiprofessional services. This underscores the need for policies and practices that promote equitable access to interventions and support, ensuring a healthier path for child development.