At the Okayama University Graduate School of Health Sciences and Okayama Pregnancy and Childbirth Support Center, from August to September 2020 (during the second wave of the spread of new coronavirus infection), the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare designated "COVID-8 Consultation Desk for Pregnant Women *" In order to clarify the actual situation of the difficulties that Okayama has and to think about countermeasures, we conducted a survey of 9 consultation counters and 2 counselors who obtained consent. In April 19, the survey results were summarized in a report.
According to the survey, the most frequently asked questions about "pregnancy and childbirth in corona sickness" were "restrictions on homecoming deliveries (homecoming births)", "effects of the new coronavirus on pregnant women", "restrictions on witnessed deliveries", and "parents' classes". Cancellation / postponement of maternity class ".The rate was particularly high in areas with frequent infections (13 prefectures at the time of the survey).
In addition, about 5% of the counselors could not answer the question about "PCR test" in the infected area. The PCR test system is not sufficient, and the cost subsidies for PCR tests of pregnant women vary depending on the local government, and the information provided by the local government is insufficient.Currently, it is necessary to answer questions about vaccination of pregnant women, such as a test to confirm a mutant virus, a cheap antigen test, and information from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and local governments. ..
Consultations on "childcare in coronavirus" include "effects of the new coronavirus on children," "infection risk during infant health checkups and vaccinations," "difficulty in obtaining childcare information," and the spread of new coronavirus infections. A relatively high rate of consultations are likely to lead to child abuse, such as "postpartum depression" and "insufficient attachment to children," and "husband's non-participation in childcare," which has become more prominent as work from home spreads. It was seen.
The highest rate of "difficulty in answering" was "anxiety about child-rearing costs due to worsening economic conditions," and it is thought that counselors in local governments without financial support find it difficult.
With the spread of the new coronavirus infection, the conventional consultation services provided by the consultation desk have become busy, and the number of consultations regarding "mental health" has increased the most.In particular, the contents of consultations that increased significantly in areas with frequent infections were "mental health," "unwanted (unexpected) pregnancy," "young pregnancy," "pregnancy abortion," "infertility (whether it is okay to get pregnant at this time, etc.)" and ". "Emergency contraception," "psychological abuse of children," "physical abuse of children," etc.It can be said that cooperation between the consultation desk and obstetric medical facilities is also important, such as prevention of "unwanted (unexpected) pregnancy" and related "abortion" by young women, and enlightenment of "emergency contraception".
* On May 2020, 5, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare requested prefectures to set up a "consultation counter for new coronaviruses for pregnant women."Currently, 7 prefectural counters, 124 government-designated city counters, and 113 core city counters have been designated.
