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Katalifos A, Elsabbagh M, Yusuf A, Yamaguchi S, Scorah J, Wright N, Steiman M, Shih A, Shikako K. Alignment of Canada's COVID-19 policy response with barriers and facilitators for coping reported by caregivers of youth with developmental delays, disorders, and disabilities. FRONTIERS IN REHABILITATION SCIENCES 2024; 5:1308062. [PMID: 38590546 PMCID: PMC10999642 DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2024.1308062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Introduction The UNICEF-WHO Global Report on Developmental Delays, Disorders, and Disabilities is an ongoing initiative aimed at increasing awareness, compiling data, providing guidance on strengthening health systems, and engaging country-level partners. Data from its caregiver survey assessing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic showed that half of youths with developmental delays and disabilities (DDDs) and their caregivers struggled to cope, with a significant portion reporting a lack of supports and difficulty managing the worsening of the child's symptoms in isolation. Governments created service strategies supporting vulnerable groups. Little is known about the alignment between COVID-19 policies for persons with disabilities and their lived experiences. Contextualizing caregivers' experiences can promote the development of tailored public supports for these families following a public health crisis. Methods Online survey data were collected from June-July 2020, leading to a convenience sample of caregivers of youth with DDDs across Canada. Respondents answered two open-ended questions regarding challenges and coping strategies during the pandemic. We conducted a thematic analysis of responses using inductive coding on NVivo software. Overarching codes derived from the dataset were contextualized using an analysis of provincial policies published during the pandemic. Parallels with these policies supported the exploration of families' and youths' experiences during the same period. Results Five hundred and seventy-six (N = 576) participants answered open-ended questions. Barriers to coping included family mental health issues, concerns about the youths' regression, challenges in online schooling, limited play spaces, and managing physical health during quarantine. Environmental barriers encompassed deteriorating family finances, loss of public services, and a lack of accessible information and supports. In contrast, caregivers reported coping facilitators, such as family time, outdoor activities, and their child's resilience. Environmental facilitators included community resources, public financial supports, and access to telehealth services. Few COVID-19 policies effectively addressed caregiver-identified barriers, while some restrictions hindered access to facilitators. Conclusion Prioritizing needs of families of youths with DDDs during public health emergencies can significantly impact their experiences and mental health. Enhancing financial benefits, providing telehealth services, and creating inclusive public play spaces are priority areas as we navigate the post-pandemic landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Katalifos
- Azrieli Centre for Autism Research, Montreal Neurological Hospital-Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mayada Elsabbagh
- Azrieli Centre for Autism Research, Montreal Neurological Hospital-Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Afiqah Yusuf
- Azrieli Centre for Autism Research, Montreal Neurological Hospital-Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sakiko Yamaguchi
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Julie Scorah
- Azrieli Centre for Autism Research, Montreal Neurological Hospital-Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nicola Wright
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Psychology, and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Mandy Steiman
- Azrieli Centre for Autism Research, Montreal Neurological Hospital-Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Andy Shih
- Scientific Affairs, Autism Speaks, New York, NY, United States
| | - Keiko Shikako
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Active Packaging Material Based on Immobilized Diatomaceous Earth/Zinc Oxide/High-Density Polyethylene Composite for Sea Food and Products. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14235228. [PMID: 36501622 PMCID: PMC9739206 DOI: 10.3390/polym14235228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the key factors of supporting the rapidly expanding seafood product industry in terms of quality control is the utilization of active packaging materials. Microorganisms are primarily responsible for the perishability and rapid disintegration of seafood. The incorporation of an inorganic compound, such as silica-based diatomaceous earth (DE), and a metal oxide, such as zinc oxide (ZnO), is proposed to develop active packaging materials with excellent antibacterial activity, minimized fishy odor, and brittleness at subzero temperatures. The mechanical, morphological, and physicochemical properties of these materials were investigated. The results show that the addition of DE/ZnO improved the antibacterial activity of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) samples by up to approximately 95% against both gram-positive and -negative bacteria. Additionally, it enhanced the Izod strength and stability at subzero temperatures of the samples. The odor evaporation test revealed that trimethylamine can be minimized in proportion to increasing DE/ZnO composite concentration. As a result, the development of active packaging materials from DE/ZnO composites is an emerging polymeric packaging technology for seafood products, wherein packaging and seafood quality are linked.
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