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Table 3 Main evidence gaps, categorized by domains, concerning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health

From: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health, early childhood development, and parental practices: a global scoping review

Maternal Mental Health

Health Care

1.Prevalence as well as magnitude and significance of change in obstetric violence and its impact on maternal mental health, stratified by socioeconomic status, country/sub-regions

2.Level of access and quality of ante and postnatal care services, stratified by socioeconomic status, country/sub-regions

3.Level of access and quality of mental health care services, especially substance abuse disorder services, stratified by socioeconomic status, country/sub-regions

Relational

1.Intimate partner violence- overall prevalence, as well as magnitude and significance of change, reported by subtype: psychological, physical, sexual. Stratified by socioeconomic status and country/sub-regions

2.Differential impact of multiple risk factors on the mental health of primiparous mothers

3.Added impact of bereavement, stratified by levels of support, access to mental health services, and presence of multiple risk factors contributing to elevated stress and depression risk factors

Demographic

1.Cross-cultural and culture-specific relationship between maternal age and: (1) prevalence of elevated stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms; (2) emotion regulation skills; (3) financial autonomy

2.Cross-cultural and culture-specific relationship between maternal ethnicity and: (1) prevalence of elevated stress, anxiety and depression symptoms; (2) access barriers to health services; (3) financial autonomy; (4) employment, financial and food insecurity; (5) neighborhood socioeconomic status as a compound measure of income, housing and public infrastructure, safety and security, deprivation, overcrowding, and access to cultural resources

Economic

1.Food insecurity: prevalence as well as magnitude and significance of change, stratified by country, sub-regions, and type concerning quantity and quality of household dietary patterns

2.Impact of financial strain on family health insurance: prevalence as well as magnitude and significance of change, stratified by country and sub-regions, as well as family socioeconomic strata, levels of access to health services, quality of health services

3.Change in quality of work productivity and performance during lockdown restrictions, in the presence of increased and unbalanced caregiving and housework responsibilities

Neighborhood

1.Association of maternal mental health and well-being and living conditions: (1) distal: city and neighborhood infrastructure or deprivation; (2) proximal: community safety and security, housing structure, overcrowding, WASH conditions, access to recreational activities, schools, daycare centers, urban parks

Environmental

1.Impact on maternal mental health and wellbeing of the interaction between the COVID-19 pandemic and environmental events, such as: (1) natural disasters; (2) industrial disasters; (3) war and conflict; (4) climate change; (5) forced migration; (6) trauma and violence

Social and Cultural

1.Cross-cultural and culture-specific relationship between maternal mental health and wellbeing and: (1) community social capital; (2) social stability; (3) individual social capital and participation