Investigation of Health Care Workers’ Thoughts on Parenting During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Year 2023, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 19 - 31, 31.03.2023

Hüsna Çevik , Emrah Emiral , Gülsüm Öztürk Emiral , Yunus Emre Bulut , Abide Aksungur

https://doi.org/10.55517/mrr.1219080

Abstract

Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused healthcare workers (HCWs) to face many stressors and stay away from their families due to increased workload. This study was aimed to determine the thoughts of HCWs who have children about parenting during the pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on HCWs working in Ankara Provincial Health Directorate between January-April 2022. Socio-demographic characteristics, working routines and the propositions of HCWs’ thoughts on parenting were questioned. Results: 272 HCWs participated in the study. 68.4% were female, and 78.7% were university graduates. 41.5% of the HCWs and the children of 36% had COVID-19 infection. Of the participants whose children were isolated due to COVID-19, 43.9% had to go to the workplace while their child was sick. Only 23.9% of the participants thought they could take care of their children adequately, while 69.9% thought their family life was adversely affected. 73.5% of the participants were worried about jeopardizing their child's physical health, 62.5% about their child's mental health, and 75% putting their child's needs in the background during the pandemic due to their work. Conclusion: Parents who are HCWs feel inadequate about parenting and cannot take care of their children as they would like due to their workload. The mental health of HCWs who are worried about endangering their children's physical and mental health and who think their family life is negatively affected may also be adversely affected. It is critical to improve the working conditions of HCWs, support them psychosocially and provide parental support, considering possible new outbreaks.

Keywords

COVID-19, Health care workers, Parenting, Pandemic, SARS-CoV-2

Supporting Institution

N/A

Project Number

N/A

Sağlık Çalışanlarının COVID-19 Pandemisi Döneminde Ebeveynliğe İlişkin Düşüncelerinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Amaç: COVID-19 pandemisi, sağlık çalışanlarının birçok stresörle karşı karşıya kalmasına ve artan iş yükü nedeniyle ailelerinden uzak kalmasına neden olmuştur. Bu çalışmada, çocuk sahibi olan sağlık çalışanlarının pandemi sürecinde ebeveynlik konusundaki düşüncelerini belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Bu kesitsel çalışma, Ocak-Nisan 2022 tarihleri arasında Ankara İl Sağlık Müdürlüğü'nde görev yapan sağlık çalışanlarıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Sağlık çalışanlarının sosyo-demografik özellikleri, çalışma rutinleri ve ebeveynlik hakkındaki düşünceleri sorgulanmıştır. Bulgular: Çalışmaya 272 sağlık çalışanı katıldı. %68,4'ü kadın, %78,7'si üniversite mezunuydu. Sağlık çalışanlarının %41,5'i, ve %36'sının çocukları COVID-19 enfeksiyonu geçirmişti. Çocukları COVID-19 nedeniyle izole olan katılımcıların %43,9'u çocuğu hastayken iş yerine gitmek zorunda kalmıştı. Katılımcıların sadece %23,9'u çocuklarıyla yeterince ilgilenebildiğini düşünürken, %69,9'u aile yaşamının olumsuz etkilendiğini düşünmekteydi. Katılımcıların %73,5'i işi nedeniyle çocuğunun/çocuklarının fiziksel sağlığını, %62,5'i çocuğunun ruh sağlığını tehlikeye atmaktan ve %75'i pandemi döneminde çocuklarının ihtiyaçlarını ikinci plana atmaktan endişe duymaktaydı. Sonuç: Sağlık çalışanı olan ebeveynler ebeveynlik konusunda kendilerini yetersiz hissetmekte ve iş yükleri nedeniyle çocuklarıyla diledikleri şekilde ilgilenememektedir. Çocuklarının fiziksel ve ruhsal sağlığını tehlikeye atmaktan endişe duyan ve aile yaşamının olumsuz etkilendiğini düşünen sağlık çalışanlarının kendi ruh sağlıklarının da olumsuz etkilenmesi muhtemeldir. Olası yeni salgınlar göz önünde bulundurularak sağlık çalışanlarının çalışma koşullarının iyileştirilmesi, psikososyal yönden desteklenmesi ve ebeveyn desteğinin sağlanması kritik önem taşımaktadır.

Keywords

COVID-19, Sağlık çalışanları, Ebeveynlik, Pandemi, SARS-CoV-2

Project Number

N/A

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