Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40003367›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of environmental research and public health2025

The Impact of COVID-19 on Maternal Health: Quantitative Data Related to Risk and Protective Factors Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Puerto Rico.

Irene Lafarga Previdi, Nobel Hernández Otero, Ana Guzzi Vasques, Ishwara Ayala, Génesis Alvelo Colón, Natacha Guilloty, Jessica Medina, Marielane Cancel-Garcia, José Cordero, Akram N Alshawabkeh and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Irene Lafarga PrevidiCenter for Collaborative Research in Health Disparities, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan 00921, Puerto Rico.ORCID 0000-0001-5647-975X
Nobel Hernández OteroMedical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00921, Puerto Rico.
Ana Guzzi VasquesCenter for Collaborative Research in Health Disparities, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan 00921, Puerto Rico.
Ishwara AyalaCollege of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Génesis Alvelo ColónMedical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00921, Puerto Rico.
Natacha GuillotyCollege of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Jessica MedinaCollege of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Marielane Cancel-GarciaMedical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00921, Puerto Rico.ORCID 0009-0000-8767-3483
José CorderoCollege of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
Akram N AlshawabkehCollege of Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Carmen Vélez VegaCenter for Collaborative Research in Health Disparities, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan 00921, Puerto Rico.

Funding

Research Experiences and Training Coordination CoreP42ES017198 · NIEHS · NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY · PI PADILLA, INGRID Y · 2010 to 2024
$38.6M
Upstream Regulation and Downstream effectors of c-MYC in Ovarian CancerU54MD007600 · NIMHD · UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MED SCIENCES · PI Carmen M Velez Vega · 2017 to 2026
$35.8M
ECHO UG3OD02351NIEHS NIH HHS P42 ES017198NIEHS NIH HHS P42ES017198NIMHD NIH HHS U54 MD007600
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic affected access to healthcare and social support. This especially impacted vulnerable populations like pregnant and postpartum women. PURPOSE: The specific aims of the project are the following: (1) examine the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy experiences and outcomes; (2) examine the mental health impact of COVID-19 in pregnant women and mothers of children 12 months or younger; (3) identify risk and protective factors among this population in Puerto Rico.

methodsParticipants were recruited from the Puerto Rico Testsite for Exploring Contamination Threats (PROTECT) cohort, which is composed of pregnant women and mothers from the northern karst region of Puerto Rico. This research has a mixed methods approach with a quantitative survey (n = 184) and qualitative interviews (n = 10); data collection was performed remotely.

findingsResults from the survey (n = 184) show that 20% of the cohort gave birth alone, 39% were separated from their baby after birth, 21% experienced isolation before birth, and 20% were separated after birth. In the study, 54% of the women were very worried about giving COVID-19 to their baby and avoided going out, receiving visits, and even canceling baby showers. The most reported sources of stress were their health status, work situation, and childcare, while the most reported coping mechanisms were watching TV or playing video games, using social media, and talking with loved ones. Forty-two percent reported that they frequently stopped enjoying activities that used to make them happy, and only 21% considered seeking mental health support.

conclusionCOVID-19 restrictions changed initial plans for baby showers, births, and childcare, and impacted the participants' mental health. Physical distance measures have resulted in isolation and stress. We expect these findings to lead to developing interventions for community health centers and parents/caretakers in Puerto Rico.

Indexed as

COVID-19Maternal HealthPregnant PeopleAdultFemaleHumansMental HealthPostpartum PeriodPregnancyProtective FactorsPuerto RicoRisk FactorsSARS-CoV-2Young AdultCOVID-19health disparitiesmaternal healthmental health

Identifiers

PMID40003367
PMCPMC11855153

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.