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Children with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic: medical and social comparative study

Authors :
Leyla S. Namazova-Baranova
Elena A. Vishneva
Elena V. Kaytukova
Natalia V. Ustinova
Anna A. Alekseeva
George A. Karkashadze
Irina A. Belyaeva
Julia G. Levina
Nato D. Vashakmadze
Marina V. Fedoseenko
Grigory V. Revunenkov
Aiaz M. Mamedieiarov
Andrey N. Surkov
Irina V. Zelenkova
Maria I. Slipka
Aleksandr V. Pashkov
Olga B. Gordeeva
Elena A. Gorbunova
Safarbegim H. Sadilloeva
Kseniya S. Katalkina
Source :
Педиатрическая фармакология, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 32-40 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Union of pediatricians of Russia, 2024.

Abstract

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic is a global challenge to States and health systems. The pandemic and its consequences can have a devastating impact on the health and development of children, especially those in vulnerable situations — children with disabilities.The aim of the study is a medical and social assessment of the effect of the COVID—19 pandemic and its consequences on families with children with disabilities.Methods. A descriptive study using the Google forms platform was conducted using the cross-sectional method. Two groups of parents of children aged 0–17 years with disabilities (group 1) and without disabilities (group 2) who apply to a medical organization for preventive examinations were interviewed.Results and discussion. A total of 175 electronic questionnaires were received. Parents from 46 regions of Russia participated in the survey. A significant majority of respondents were women — 172 people (98%), 3 men (2%). More than half of the respondents are residents of the megalopolis. The study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the health and education of children and on the lifestyle and families welfare in general. It was revealed that the financial situation of many families who took part in the study worsened, which affected the living conditions of children. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the health care system was being rebuilt taking into account new tasks to counteract dangerous infection, which was reflected in changes in the provision of medical care to children, and in some cases this led to a deterioration of their health. A significant number of parents who participated in the study believe that changes in the organization of medical care during the pandemic had a negative impact on their child’s health. Among the main health problems, parents highlight delays and cancellations of medical consultations, difficulties in obtaining urgent care and problems with drug provision. Among the main health problems, parents highlight delays and cancellations of medical consultations, difficulties in obtaining emergency care and problems with drug provision. The study shows that families with disabled children have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to a greater extent than families raising children without chronic health problems. If the deterioration of the financial situation is almost equally revealed in both groups, then problems related to medical care and education have a more noticeable impact on families with a child with a disability. The obtained results should be taken into account in times of new challenges when developing measures of state support for families with children, especially with children with disabilities. At the same time, it is important to pay primary attention to the organization of medical care for children (continuity of planned medical care for the child population and rehabilitation actions) and educational services (providing online learning opportunities for the child, taking into account individual ones).Conclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences have had a negative impact on the standard and quality of life of people, especially families with children. The pandemic has had a significant adverse impact on the health and development of children, especially children with disabilities. The study showed a decrease in the financial situation of families, problems with children receiving medical care, difficulties in education, especially with regard to specialized pedagogical classes with disabled children, during the pandemic. According to the study, in order to prevent the negative impact of the pandemic, it is proposed not only to provide financial support to families, but also to maintain access to the educational process with the provision of the required devices, as well as the possibility of receiving medical care for children, especially children with disabilities, including planned.

Details

Language :
Russian
ISSN :
17275776 and 25003089
Volume :
21
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Педиатрическая фармакология
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.082dfa27091b43d5bd8e304d252d6251
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.15690/pf.v21i1.2709