Dataset used in the manuscript.

BackgroundCaregivers of young children may have been particularly vulnerable to mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic due to its negative impacts on their housing, finances, and childcare demands. This study explored the associations between COVID-19-related experiences and symptoms of depression and anxiety among Ugandan caregivers.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 100 Ugandan caregivers of young children aged 6–59 months with uncomplicated malaria and iron deficiency (N = 85) and without malaria or anemia (N = 15) who were enrolled in the Optimizing Iron Status in Malaria-Endemic Areas (OptiM) study. Sociodemographic data and COVID-19 experiences were collected using an internally developed survey and symptoms of depression and anxiety were measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-25) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD-20) scale. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the associations between COVID-19 survey scores with HSCL-25 or CESD-20 scores.ResultsNearly half of caregivers reported clinically meaningful symptoms of depression (46%) and/or anxiety (49%). Caregivers had more severe symptoms of depression and/or anxiety if they experienced greater changes in living situations or decreases in physical activity (CESD-20: β = 3.35, 95% CI [1.00, 5.70], p = .01), food insecurity (HSCL-25: β = 3.25, 95% CI [0.41, 6.10], p = .03, CESD-25: β = 3.09, 95% CI [0.79, 5.39], p = .01), and domestic violence (HSCL-25: β = 3.82, 95% CI [0.94, 6.70], p = .01) during COVID-19. These associations did not vary depending on whether the caregivers had children with malaria.ConclusionsNegative COVID-19 experiences were significantly associated with more severe depression and anxiety in Ugandan caregivers, regardless of their children’s malaria status. Urgent attention and action are needed to support the mental well-being of this vulnerable population. Further prospective studies should investigate the long-term impact of COVID-19 on caregivers and their children.

背景 新冠疫情期间，低龄儿童照护者可能因疫情对其住房、经济状况及照护需求造成的负面影响，更容易出现心理健康问题。本研究旨在探讨乌干达地区低龄儿童照护者的新冠相关经历与抑郁、焦虑症状之间的关联。
方法 本横断面研究纳入了参与疟疾流行地区铁营养状况优化（Optimizing Iron Status in Malaria-Endemic Areas, OptiM）研究的100名乌干达低龄儿童照护者，其中85名儿童患有单纯性疟疾并缺铁，15名儿童既无疟疾也无贫血。研究采用自编问卷收集社会人口学数据及新冠相关经历，使用霍普金斯症状检查表（Hopkins Symptom Checklist, HSCL-25）以及流调中心抑郁量表（Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression, CESD-20）评估抑郁与焦虑症状。采用多元线性回归模型分析新冠问卷得分与HSCL-25或CESD-20得分之间的关联。
结果 近半数照护者报告存在具有临床意义的抑郁症状（46%）和/或焦虑症状（49%）。若照护者在新冠疫情期间出现居住状况大幅变动、体力活动减少（CESD-20: β=3.35, 95%CI[1.00, 5.70], p=0.01）、粮食不安全（HSCL-25: β=3.25, 95%CI[0.41, 6.10], p=0.03；CESD-25: β=3.09, 95%CI[0.79, 5.39], p=0.01）以及家庭暴力（HSCL-25: β=3.82, 95%CI[0.94, 6.70], p=0.01），则其抑郁和/或焦虑症状更为严重。上述关联并未因照护者的子女是否患有疟疾而有所差异。
结论 新冠疫情带来的负面经历与乌干达照护者更严重的抑郁、焦虑症状显著相关，且与子女的疟疾感染状态无关。亟需采取紧急干预措施以支持这一脆弱群体的心理健康。未来应开展前瞻性研究，探究新冠疫情对照护者及其子女的长期影响。