Browsing by Author "Mihailova, Darja"

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    The impact of COVID–19 pandemic and restriction measures on sexual behaviour, couple relationship and psychological well-being in Latvia
    (2021-04-21) Briedīte, Ieva; Ķīvīte-Urtāne, Anda; Lazdāne, Gunta; Rezeberga, Dace; Kantāne, Ināra; Pumpure, Elizabete; Pitkevica, Ieva; Graviņa, Marta Laura; Mihailova, Darja; Rīga Stradiņš University
    Purpose: Since the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions, almost all domains of people’s lives have been affected, including couple and family relationships and sexual life. There are various factors that are likely to influence the partner availability, intimacy, emotional well-being, contraception access and interpersonal tension. Materials and methods: Behavioural cross-sectional online survey (I-SHARE) combined with structured interviews with the aim to determine the impact of COVID-19 social restriction measures on sexual health and psychological well-being and behaviour was conducted. Results and conclusions: Results showed increase of tension and its negative impact on frequency and satisfaction with sex life. Frequency of sexual intercourse decreased more for people who did not live with their partner. Increase of alcohol consumption and loss of job decreased satisfaction with sex life. Controversial data about contraception availability and intimate partner violence were obtained showing no impact in survey, but revealing contraception access restrictions and intimate partner violence increase during qualitative research interviews.
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    Relationship between pregnant women and their partners during COVID-19 and the role of accompanying persons during childbirth
    (2021-06-07) Pumpure, Elizabete; Rezeberga, Dace; Lazdane, Gunta; Briedite, Ieva; Mihailova, Darja; Pitkevica, Ieva; Gravina, Laura Marta; Olsena, Solvita; Kantane, Inara; Ķīvīte-Urtāne, Anda; Institute of Public Health; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
    Objective: Although the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the presence of a support person, several hospitals in Latvia have restricted the presence of supporting persons due to COVID-19. This study was conducted to understand the importance of partnership and the role of the accompanying person in childbirth in the context of COVID-19 in Latvia.Methods: A mixed method study with sequential explanatory design was conducted from 26 July to 30 October 2020. The quantitative study consisted of a behavioral cross-sectional online survey with convenience sampling. The survey items, methods, and implementation were performed as part of the I-SHARE study carried out in 33 countries, with standardized survey instruments that were focused on sexual and reproductive health issues. In Latvia it was supported by the National Research Program to lessen the effects of COVID-19. Our study analyses only one part of all data. To answer the research question besides quantitative data the qualitative study that consisted of 7 semi-structured in-depth interviews and 11 focus group discussions was integrated.Results: 1,173 people of Latvia have participated in the I-SHARE online survey. The answers of 662 women of reproductive age and 70 pregnant women have been analyzed. Pregnant women had less tension with their partners and received higher partner emotional support before the COVID-19 pandemic than other women of reproductive age, and pregnant women were less frustrated during COVID-19 than non-pregnant women of reproductive age (p < .05). More than half (61.4%) of the pregnant women felt anxiety and depression due to COVID-19 restrictions. The qualitative part of the study revealed that having a partner during childbirth was an important aspect when choosing a facility to give birth in, as the lack of an accompanying person caused anxiety and additional stress.Conclusions: COVID-19 has increased anxiety and depression among pregnant women. Birth companions should not be considered third parties, and establishing a delivery unit visitor policy is necessary to balance the benefits and risks in an evidence-based and compassionate manner.
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    Socioeconomic Factors and Changes in Food Choice and Availability During COVID-19 Restrictions in Latvia
    (2022-02-01) Pitkēviča, Ieva; Pumpure, Elizabete; Graviņa, Marta Laura; Mihailova, Darja; Briedīte, Ieva; Rezeberga, Dace; Kantāne, Ināra; Ķīvīte-Urtāne, Anda; Lazdāne, Gunta; Rīga Stradiņš University
    The COVID-19 pandemic changed the life of many. The study aimed to identify fragile groups ofthe population regarding nutrition during the COVID-19 restriction period. An online survey wasconducted from 26 July to 3 September 2020. A total of 1173 answers were received from per-sons aged 18–68 years living in Latvia. The results showed that food availability mainly was notlimited, although for 15.3% responders restrictions caused increased worries about not havingenough food, and 12.2% noted a decrease in the ability to eat preferred food. Responders aged40–54 noted that they ate less, and that their food stocks were scarce in comparison with otherage groups. Almost 50% of responders increased food consumption. One-fifth of responders in-creased consumption of foods of low nutritional value, especially among 25–39 year old personsand in households where the economic situation became worse. Fragile groups regarding nutri-tion in times of COVID-19 restrictions included households whose economic situation becameworse during the COVID-19 restrictions, younger people who increased food consumption to-gether with consumption of food of low nutritional value, and persons aged 40–54 years. The datafrom the study serve as an indicator that more detailed research is needed to determine whethercrises such as the COVID-19 pandemic are changing dietary habits and food availability in thepopulation.