Early child development has been influenced directly and indirectly by the COVID-19 pandemic, and these effects are exacerbated in contexts of poverty. This study estimates effects of the pandemic and subsequent population lockdowns on mental health, caregiving practices, and freedom of movement among female caregivers of children 6–27 months (50% female), in rural Bangladesh. A cohort (N = 517) was assessed before and during the pandemic (May–June, 2019 and July–September, 2020). Caregivers who experienced more food insecurity and financial loss during the pandemic reported larger increases in depressive symptoms (0.26 SD, 95% CI 0.08–0.44; 0.21 SD, 0.04–0.40) compared to less affected caregivers. Stimulating caregiving and freedom of movement results were inconsistent. Increases in depressive symptoms during the pandemic may have consequences for child development.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 大流行对低资源农村环境中看护者心理健康和儿童看护环境的影响

COVID-19 大流行直接或间接地影响了儿童早期发展，而这些影响在贫困背景下会加剧。这项研究估计了大流行和随后的人口封锁对孟加拉国农村 6-27 个月儿童（50% 为女性）的女性护理人员的心理健康、护理实践和行动自由的影响。 在大流行之前和期间（2019 年 5 月至 6 月和 2020 年 7 月至 9 月）评估了一个队列 ( N = 517)。在大流行期间经历更多粮食不安全和经济损失的护理人员报告抑郁症状的增加幅度更大（0.26 SD，95% CI 0.08–0.44；0.21 SD, 0.04–0.40) 与受影响较小的护理人员相比。刺激护理和行动自由的结果不一致。大流行期间抑郁症状的增加可能会对儿童的发育产生影响。