Elaborado con IA a partir del resumen de los autores
Artículo que examina el impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en la salud mental de las mujeres en Brasil. El texto analiza cómo las medidas de distanciamiento social, junto con vulnerabilidades emocionales preexistentes asociadas a cambios hormonales y desigualdades de género, incrementaron la prevalencia de síntomas de estrés, ansiedad y depresión en la población femenina. Identifica factores de riesgo adicionales como ser adulta joven, vivir en regiones con alta mortalidad, antecedentes de trastornos mentales, desempleo y ausencia de actividad física. El artículo también señala que durante el confinamiento aumentaron los casos de violencia doméstica, sexual y embarazos no deseados. Propone estrategias multiprofesionales incluyendo teleconsultas con psicólogos y psiquiatras, junto con acceso a recursos alternativos para poblaciones sin conectividad digital.
Puntos clave
Las mujeres presentaron mayor prevalencia de síntomas de estrés, ansiedad y depresión durante la pandemia de COVID-19 debido a vulnerabilidades hormonales y desigualdades de género previas.
El distanciamiento social exacerbó factores de riesgo como el aumento de violencia doméstica, sexual y embarazos no deseados, particularmente por mayor tiempo de convivencia.
Factores de riesgo identificados incluyen ser adulta joven, residir en regiones de alta mortalidad, antecedentes de ansiedad o depresión, desempleo e inactividad física.
Se requieren servicios especializados con diagnóstico y tratamiento accesibles, expandiendo teleconsultas con profesionales de salud mental para quienes tengan acceso digital.
Para quién: Útil para psicólogos, psiquiatras, profesionales de salud pública y estudiantes de posgrado en Brasil y América Latina que desarrollen intervenciones en salud mental femenina durante crisis sanitarias.
Resumen de los autores
Women's mental health in times of COVID-19Approximately nine months ago, the world population began to have negative experiences regarding to the spread of a respiratory virus, called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).This virus is the etiological agent of COVID-19, a disease considered responsible for one of the worst outbreaks experienced by humanity.1 Not long ago, the COVID-19 pandemic affected the most diverse social strata in Brazil, which was the first country in Latin America with reported case. 1 Due to the severe transmissibility, morbidity and mortality associated with the scarcity of knowledge about the pathogenesis of the virus and of the effective treatments, preventive measures and recommendations were installed to contain the spread of the disease. 2 The restriction of social coexistence, represented by social distancing, the mandatory use of masks and frequent hand washing, were some of the tools used, varying in intensity according to the health policies of each government.1 In this context of social mitigation, feelings of fear and anguish resulting from the pandemic are afflicted and, connected to the yearning for a possible infection, becoming triggers for clinical manifestations of psychopathologies. 3 On the other hand, among the impacts of the presence of psychic disorders is the impairment of quality of life, resulting from the reduction or complete loss of productivity in daily activities and/or in the maintenance of social relations.3 Thus, one can consider that mental disorders and social distancing have a twoway cause and effect relationship.Recent research has shown a higher prevalence of symptoms for stress, anxiety and depression in the female population during the COVID-19 pandemic.Before the social distancing variable, female emotional vulnerability was both linked to hormonal changes during the pre-menstrual, pre and postpartum, and menopause periods, and to gender inequalities, which strengthen work overloads and violence against women.3 Parallel to the consolidation of social restrictions, the rates of domestic, sexual, and unwanted pregnancy have increased 1 as a result of men spending longer time at home, which contributes to the significant prevalence of psychic clinical conditions in women during this period.In addition, the following variables stand out as possible risk factors for the impairment of the female population's mental health during social isolation: being a young adult, residing in regions with high rates of cases and mortality of COVID-19, having a history of anxiety and depression, taking medication, reduced or absent of physical activity and leisure, and being unemployed.In view of the significant impact of COVID-19, the world governments are prioritizing the consolidation of measures to control and combat this new disease and, despite the effectiveness of these resources, effects arising indirectly of the pandemic are being overshadowed, such as the impairment of mental health in the female population.Therefore, the necessity to create proactive strategies of a multi-professional nature, in order to cover and individualize the multiple factors that exert the influence on women's mental health.Due to the profound absence or failure in the diagnosis and treatment for women affected by mental disorders and the high recurrence of these disorders in previous carriers, the need for specialized services that offer easy access care is highlighted.3 Teleconsultations with psychologists and psychiatrists is suggested to be expanded, however, alternative measures should be offered to patients who do not have access to digital resources.Therefore, we emphasize the need for investments also in the psychic management of this target public.The crisis resulting from the new coronavirus pandemic has reflected, in addition to deficits in the health
Souza, A. S. R., Souza, G. F. D. A., & Praciano, G. D. A. F. (2020). Women's mental health in times of COVID-19.Revista Brasileira de Saúde Materno Infantil. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-93042020000300001
