Changes in Occupational Roles and Common Mental Disorders in Mothers of Children With Congenital Zika Syndrome.

IMPORTANCE

The functional limitations and long-term dependence of children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) may lead to changes in maternal occupational roles, which can have a negative impact on mothers' well-being and mental health.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate changes in occupational roles and their effects on the mental health of mothers who have a child with CZS.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Rehabilitation centers of the Brazilian Unified Health System in Alagoas, Northeast Brazil.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty mothers of children with CZS.

OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The Role Checklist and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 were used to assess the mothers' involvement in occupational roles and common mental disorders (CMDs), respectively. The relationship between changes in occupational roles and CMDs was analyzed using a logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Our study showed that loss of paid work (p = .026) is associated with poor mental health of mothers of children with CZS.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Strengthening public policies to reduce the economic impact of CZS on families, offering multidisciplinary counseling, and implementing psychoeducational strategies for promoting maternal psychological adjustment are needed.

WHAT THIS ARTICLE ADDS

The time and money spent by mothers in daily care activities for children with CZS contribute to a reduction in family income and social well-being and have a negative impact on mothers' mental health.