Journal of Psychiatry

General health status and psychological impact of covid19 pandemic and curfew on children aging 3 to 12 years

Annual World Congress on Psychiatry

February 16-17, 2023 | Webinar

Maryam Aburezq

Farwanyia Hospital, Kuwait

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Psychiatry

Abstract:

Background: COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic and public health emergency in 2019 and has impacted children’s mental health worldwide. This study aimed to assess the general and mental health status of children during COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted on children aging 3 to 12 years in Kuwait during three different stages of COVID19 pandemic (pre-total curfew, during total curfew, and post-total curfew). The psychological status was assessed using the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria. Results: Of 2157 children aging 3 to 12 years, 853 (39.5%) reported increased level of aggression, 789 (36.6%) over-crying, 749 (34.7%) sadness, 493 (22.9%) anxiety, 429 (19.9%) anhedonia, 383 (17.8%) confusion, 274 (12.7%) nightmares, 177 (8.2%) avoidance, 174 (8.1%) physical symptoms and 121 (5.6%) bedwetting during the pandemic. . Nightmares (11.4% vs. 11.3% vs. 15.6%, p=0.004) and anhedonia (19% vs. 17.6% vs. 23.2%, p=0.051) were significantly higher in posttotal curfew, while over-crying at the beginning of the pandemic (39.8% vs. 32.1% vs. 37%, p=0.044). Among 657 children aging 8 to 12 years, 77 (11.7%) had homicidal behaviors, while 25 children (3.8%) self-reported having suicidal ideation during the pandemic. General health status also revealed disturbed sleeping pattern (84.6%), altered appetite (50.9%) and weight changes (36.9%), mainly weight gain, during this pandemic. Risk factors included being non-national, as well as having lower parental educational level and lower socioeconomic status; while protective factors involved meeting classmates, indoor and outdoor activities, and less screen time. Conclusions: COVID19 crisis had drastic impact on children’s mental and general health, requiring serious action regarding screening them, particularly those at higher risk, and intervening accordingly. Further investigations and research evaluating long-term effect of COVID19 pandemic are required to lessen its consequences and protect our future generation.

Biography :

Dr. Maryam Aburezq is enrolled to the Kuwaiti Board of Pediatrics in Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations. She has been working in Farwaniya Hospital as her base Hospital and started to rotate in different pediatric departments and pediatrics subspecialties in different hospitals in Kuwait as part of her training program. She is a member in the Editorial Board of American Journal of Pediatrics. She is interested in research field and passionate about children’s health.