Perinatal hardship and infant neurodevelopment: insights from a global pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Material and emotional hardship during pregnancy can shape early brain development and behavior in infants. This study used the COVID-19 pandemic as a natural context in which such hardships were widespread, particularly in low-resource settings.

Methods

This cohort study examined associations between pandemic-related maternal emotional distress and material hardship during pregnancy and early neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants. A total of 235 mother-infant dyads from low-resource healthcare settings in Brazil were enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maternal hardships were assessed using a COVID-19-specific questionnaire, which included self-reported COVID-19 exposure/infection. Infant neurodevelopment was evaluated via MRI at 2-6 weeks of age and behavior

SUBMITTER: Posner J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12625329 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature