“Anti-COVID-19” Medications, Supplements, and Mental Health Status in Indonesian Mothers with School-Age Children

Abstract

Annette d’Arqom,1,2 Brihastami Sawitri,2,3 Zamal Nasution,4 Riko Lazuardi5 1Division of Pharmacology, Department of Anatomy, Histology, and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia; 2Translational Medicine and Therapeutic Research Group, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia; 3Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia; 4Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; 5District Level Health Office, Surabaya, IndonesiaCorrespondence: Annette d’ArqomDivision of Pharmacology, Department of Anatomy, Histology, and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Airlangga, Jl. Mayjen Prof. Dr. Moestopo 47, Surabaya, 60131, East Java, IndonesiaEmail [email protected]: The COVID-19 pandemic affects all aspects of life and might cause stress for vulnerable groups such as mothers with school-age children, both housewives and working mothers. With the uncontrolled circulating information about medications, supplements, and herbs that are believed to treat COVID-19, self-medication and misused might escalate. Therefore, this study aims to determine the consumption of “anti-COVID” agents and the mental health of mothers with school-age children in Indonesia.Methods: Online questionnaires regarding medications/supplements for COVID-19 prevention and treatment of “anti-COVID” consumption behavior and mental health using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21) were distributed among Indonesian mothers with school-age children. Data (n = 610) were analyzed; descriptive and association between sociodemographic factors, “anti-COVID” medications consumption, and mental health were presented.Results: A quarter of the respondents were categorized as having mental disorders, with higher scores of DASS-21 was higher in the housewives’ group. The incidence associated with age, family expenses, and marital status in the working mothers’ group, and only with family expense in the housewives’ group. Moreover, the result showed 80% of the respondents consumed “anti-COVID” medications or supplements to prevent COVID-19, with 75% did self-medication without consulting with a healthcare professional. Friends/family and social media were two primary sources of information regarding the “anti-COVID” products. In the housewives’ group, their consumption behavior was influenced by education. Meanwhile in the working mothers’ group, the consumption behavior was influenced by age, family income, and family expense. In addition, there was no association between the usage of medications/supplements with the respondents’ mental health status.Conclusion: This study showed the importance of controlling information and expanding the mother’s knowledge to find the correct information to minimize the unwanted effect in the post COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing awareness of mental health issues in the community, especially in the vulnerable population such as mother with school-age children, is necessary to avoid detrimental effects that might occur in the future.Keywords: mental health, natural product, self-medication, vitamin

Keywords

• mental health
• natural product
• self-medication
• vitamin