A qualitative exploration of the impact of COVID-19 on families with a child under 5 years-old in the borough of Newham, East London

Aim: Families from socioeconomically deprived backgrounds appear to have been greatly impacted and face worsening inequalities as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With more than half of children in Newham, East London, living in poverty, this study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns on families with a child under 5 years-old in Newham and identify their immediate needs to inform recovery efforts. Subjects and methods: This was a qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 participants (2 fathers; 11 mothers) exploring the impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns on family life, neighbourhood and community and important relationships in the child’s world. Results: All parents experienced significant impacts on family life and well-being because of the pandemic. Families were placed under increased stress and were concerned about the impacts on child development. Low-income families were most disadvantaged, experiencing lack of professional support, community engagement and inadequate housing. Conclusion: Families were placed under increasing pressure during the pandemic and recovery efforts need to target those most affected, such as families from low-income households. Recovery efforts should target child social and language development, family mental health, professional service engagement and community involvement.