Impact of The COVID-19 Pandemic on Perinatal Mental Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented spike in both need and demand for mental health support. Expectant and new mothers are a vulnerable group faced with significant biological, physiological, psychological, and social changes during the transition to motherhood. First onset and exacerbation of mental disorders are common during pregnancy and the postpartum period; the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders is estimated to be as high as 20-25% and these rates are even higher in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).



Previous research on the impact of natural disasters on perinatal (pre- and post-partum) mental health has documented adverse effects on women and their newborns due to increased stress and disruptions in routine care and social support networks. The COVID-19 pandemic has an even greater toll on the mental health of pregnant women and expectant mothers due to the added burden of physical distancing measures. Published evidence to date suggests that perinatal mental health has deteriorated since the COVID-19 outbreak. However, less is known about the vulnerable groups within this group, including migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, forcibly displaced populations, women from LMICs, LGBT, adolescent mothers, mothers with physical disabilities, physical conditions, and chronic mental health difficulties.



In keeping with the Scope & Mission of Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, the goal of this Research Topic is to gather a collection of original and review articles on the impact of the current pandemic on perinatal mental health, particularly in resource-poor settings and with marginalized and vulnerable groups.



We welcome manuscript contributions on any of the following topics:



- Epidemiological studies assessing the impact of COVID-19 on perinatal mental health outcomes



- Studies assessing risk and protective factors related to perinatal mental health outcomes



- Intervention and prevention studies (effectiveness and implementation) on perinatal mental health outcomes



- Policy research that addresses prevention, diagnosis, and management of perinatal mental health



- Partners' mental health



- Violence against women during pregnancy and the postpartum period



- Vulnerable populations, displaced women, refugees, forcibly displaced women and migrants, LGBT, adolescents, co-morbid physical and chronic mental disorders

Keywords: perinatal mental health, anxiety, depression, COVID-19

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.