Psychosocial support for pregnant women and for families with microcephaly and other neurological complications in the context of Zika virus

Interim guidance for health-care providers

Share

 

Print

Authors:
World Health Organization

Publication details

Number of pages: 18
Publication date: 26 February 2016
Languages: English
WHO reference number:WHO/ZIKV/MOC/16.6

Downloads

• Psychosocial support for pregnant women and for families with microcephaly and other neurological complications in the context of Zika virus
  pdf, 1.18Mb

 

 

 

 

 

 http://who.int/csr/resources/publications/zika/psychosocial-support/en/

Edited February 26, 201610 yr by Admin

Overview

On 1 February 2016 WHO announced that a cluster of microcephaly and other neurologic disorders reported in Brazil is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Several countries have reported an increase in the incidence of cases of microcephaly and/or Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (2) concurrent with Zika virus outbreak. A causal relationship between Zika infection during pregnancy and microcephaly is strongly suspected, though not scientifically proven.

This document describes guidance for a supportive response by healthcare providers (e.g. physicians, nurses), focusing primarily on women affected by Zika virus infection during pregnancy and their families, for their mental health and psychosocial needs.