Microcephaly and other Zika virus related events: the impact on children, families and health teams

Musculoskeletal pain and quality of life in mothers of children with microcephaly, due to congenital Zika virus syndrome

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to observe the prevalence and intensity of musculoskeletal pain and the quality of life in mothers of children with microcephaly and also to compare the scores of the quality of life domains between mothers who had or did not have musculoskeletal pain.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study that evaluated mothers of children with a clinical diagnosis of microcephaly, due to congenital Zika virus syndrome, in the state of Pernambuco, northeast region, Brazil. To assess musculoskeletal pain, the Nordic Questionnaire of Musculoskeletal Symptoms was used, pain intensity was assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale and quality of life by the SF-36 Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Of the 63 mothers evaluated, 59 (93.7%) reported currently experiencing musculoskeletal pain. The lumbar spine was the body region with the highest prevalence of pain (77.8%), followed by the thoracic spine (57.1%) and cervical spine (50.8%). Pain intensity was higher in the lumbar spine (6.00 ± 0.47), thoracic spine (4.44 ± 0.52) and shoulders (3.81 ± 0.51). The domains that presented the lowest scores in the quality of life assessment were general health status (49.0 ± 3.19), emotional aspects (49.7 ± 5.88) and pain (49.7 ± 2.50). Mothers who had musculoskeletal pain had lower scores in all domains of quality of life assessment compared to mothers who did not have pain, demonstrating significant differences for functional capacity (P = 0.035), physical aspects (P = 0.047) and pain (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

A high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was observed in mothers of children with microcephaly, with a higher prevalence and intensity in the lumbar spine. The domains related to physical and emotional health presented the worst scores in the quality of life of the evaluated mothers and the presence of musculoskeletal pain reduced the quality of life of the mothers of children with microcephaly in this study.

Translation and preliminary validation of the Brazilian family resources scale in a sample of parents of children with congenital Zika virus syndrome

PURPOSE

Family-centered rehabilitative care optimizes outcomes for children with significant developmental disabilities. Family-centered services involve assessing family resources that promote positive developmental outcomes for children. Little is known regarding family resources in the context of caring for a child with developmental disabilities in Brazil due to an absence of validated measures. This study describes the translation and cultural adaptation of the Family Resource Scale and explored the measurement quality of the resulting measure (the Brazilian-Family Resource Scale, or B-FRS).

METHODS

A rigorous serial translation process that emphasized linguistic accuracy as well as cultural adaptation was utilized. The resulting 27-item B-FRS was theoretically related and reflected the contextual intent of the original measure.

RESULTS

A four-factor scoring approach yielded acceptable internal consistency estimates for the subscales and total scale score. Overall, low levels of family resources were reported by caregivers of children with Congenital Zika Syndrome. Low family resources were associated with parental depressive and stress-related symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Confirmatory factor analysis of the B-FRS in a larger sample is recommended. Practitioners in Brazil should broadly consider family needs and resources to provide family-centered care that is effective for the child and engages the family in a way that highlights their strengths and promotes positive developmental trajectories.

The Salvador Primary Care Longitudinal Study of Child Development (CohortDICa) Following the Zika Epidemic: Study Protocol

This article describes the Salvador Primary Care Longitudinal Study of Child Development (CohortDICa). The exposed group was defined by confirmation of Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) diagnosed through computed tomography, magnetic resonance or transfontanellar ultrasound. A random selection of the 169 exposed children led to a subgroup of 120 children who were paired with children from the Live Birth Information System, according to birthdate, residence in the same street or neighborhood, and gestational age, resulting in 115 subjects in the non-exposed group. Following recruitment and before the participants completed 42 months, three measures were applied to assess cognitive, motor, and language performance, corresponding to three home visits. Social characteristics of the families and children, and the neurocognitive development of the children will be compared across the CZS exposed group (n = 147), the typical children with no exposure to CZS (n = 115) and the STORCH exposed group (Syphilis, Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes simplex) (n = 20). Primary Health Care (PHC) should include long-term care strategies for the care of children and family members, and might benefit from the research, teaching, and extension activities provided in this study. In the face of the consequences of the Zika virus epidemic, an opportunity arose to intervene in the integrated care of child development within PHC, including, on an equal basis, typical children and those with delays or disabilities in the first six years of life.

Impacto da microcefalia no vínculo mãe-bebê e suas repercussões para o desenvolvimento infantil

Resumo O vínculo afetivo entre mãe e bebê é fundamental para o desenvolvimento infantil, mas pode sofrer o impacto de uma condição como a microcefalia, decorrente do contágio pelo vírus zika durante a gravidez. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as repercussões da infecção na formação do laço mãe-bebê e seus desfechos para o desenvolvimento infantil. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, conduzida com nove mães infectadas pelo vírus zika e seus bebês, dentre os quatro nasceram com microcefalia. Todas as mães foram atendidas no hospital Maternidade Escola da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro e responderam ao questionário de Indicadores de Risco para o Desenvolvimento Infantil, e seus bebês foram avaliados pelo Battelle Developmental Inventory 2nd edition. Observou-se que a relação mãe-bebê apresentou mais indicadores de risco para o desenvolvimento infantil quando o bebê tinha microcefalia.

Health surveillance and development of children with congenital Zika Virus syndrome: an integrative literature review

Objective:

To identify scientific knowledge about the attention to health surveillance and development of Brazilian children under the age of three years involving the Congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) Syndrome.

Data sources:

This is an integrative literature review of primary studies with Brazilian children under three years of age from 2015 to 2019. The searches were carried out in the databases Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), US National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), SCOPUS and Web of Science. It was carried out by crossing the keywords in English (child, child development and Zika virus) and in Portuguese (criança, desenvolvimento infantil e Zika vírus), with the combination of the Boolean operator “AND”.

Data synthesis:

The knowledge produced is related to the specific health and development problems of children affected by the Congenital ZIKV Syndrome, with clinical characteristics, care demands, multiprofessional performance, health monitoring and surveillance needs.

Conclusions:

This integrative review synthesized scientific knowledge by adding aspects that reinforce the relevance of appropriate approaches to assess and care for children, linked to the engagement of caregivers, the need to document, evaluate and track the situations of children in early childhood and long-term, management coordination of care and its challenges in the context of primary health care.

[Therapeutic itinerary of children with microcephaly due to the Zika virus]

In 2015, there was an epidemic of microcephaly in Brazil that was associated with infection by the Zika virus. The condition of these children obliged the parents to embark on a quest in search of treatment. The scope of this study was to establish the therapeutic itinerary pursued in healthcare sectors by parents and/or caregivers of children with microcephaly due to the Zika virus. It involved qualitative research, conducted at a Center of Reference on Neurodevelopment between April 2017 and February 2018, with parents and/or caregivers of children with microcephaly caused by the Zika virus. The sample complied with the criteria of saturation. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted, recorded, and transcribed, and content analysis was applied. The results revealed disorientation and uncertainties in the search for care in the health sector. The most sought-after sector was the professional sector, followed by the informal sector. The information conveyed in the media and social networks, which constitute part of the informal sector, helped to clarify the significance of microcephaly and the Zika virus and assisted in the search for treatment. Care in the healthcare network was marked by difficulties and, faced with a new and emergency situation, the route between diagnosis and treatment was arduous.

Comunicação organizacional, microcefalia e estéticas da diferença: análise de 2 (dois) anos de discursos do governo federal frente à epidemia do vírus Zika,

Resumo Este artigo objetiva analisar formas de afetação da diferença presentes na comunicação organizacional do governo federal em meio ao contexto do aumento do número de nascimentos de crianças com microcefalia no Brasil, durante a epidemia do vírus Zika, entre novembro de 2015 e novembro de 2017. Suas bases conceituais discutem a comunicação e o regime estético das/nas organizações, diante da aparição pública da microcefalia, que afeta discursos oficiais a partir de estéticas da diferença, reveladoras de cenários de vulnerabilidade. A metodologia pautou-se por uma análise interpretativa do discurso organizacional, tendo como suporte empírico publicações sobre a microcefalia no Blog da Saúde, do Ministério da Saúde. Como resultados, os tratamentos discursivos sinalizam, progressivamente, posturas de: impassibilidade (em relação a mulheres/crianças); erradicação do vetor (prioridade da ação pública); confissão (admissão circunscrita de um desafio de saúde pública); admissão expandida; atribuição de aparência (naturalidade); e atrofiamento (microcefalia associada unicamente à erradicação do vetor). Conclui-se que, à exceção dos tratamentos de admissão expandida e atribuição de aparência, todos os outros revelam abordagens que podem colaborar com o apagamento da existência de seres humanos, com visíveis marcas sociais de vulnerabilidade, por apostas discursivas que, ironicamente, reforçam uma personificação do vetor transmissor do Zika.

Ser Mãe de Criança com Microcefalia: Do Ideal ao Real na Síndrome Congênita do Zika Vírus (SCZV)

Resumo A microcefalia é uma condição neurológica que afeta o tamanho do perímetro cefálico. Nesta pesquisa qualitativa e descritiva, buscou-se avaliar como a mãe lida com o bebê real, identificando processos de reconstrução das idealizações maternas. Os instrumentos utilizados foram questionário sociodemográfico e entrevista semiestruturada gravada. A coleta foi realizada em três municípios do interior da Paraíba, nos domicílios de seis mães de microcéfalos com até um ano de idade. Os dados coletados no conteúdo emergente na fala das entrevistadas passaram pela análise temático categorial com suporte teórico psicanalítico. Foram identificadas nove categorias: a) reações ao diagnóstico; b) luto do bebê idealizado; c) elaboração do luto e mecanismos de enfrentamento; d) formas de lidar com o bebê e maternagem; e) dinâmica familiar após a descoberta da microcefalia; f) preconceito; g) atendimento focado em aspectos biológicos e físicos; h) acompanhamento psicológico e acolhimento; i) e suporte social. A mãe é abalada nos aspectos psicológicos e sociais. Os resultados mostram que a espiritualidade, o apoio familiar e de outras mães que vivenciam a mesma situação são formas de enfrentamento. O suporte social mais significativo é exercido pelas mães de outras crianças com microcefalia, com as quais as entrevistadas passaram a conviver em meio ao tratamento interdisciplinar dos filhos. O profissional de psicologia tem um papel fundamental na família que enfrenta a microcefalia, fortalecendo a maternagem, potencializando as forças da mãe para lidar com a desilusão e auxiliando-a na reorganização e adaptação a esse bebê com deficiências múltiplas, o que proporciona a reconstrução de suas idealizações.

Feeding modifications and additional primary caregiver support for infants exposed to Zika virus or diagnosed with congenital Zika syndrome: a rapid review of the evidence

OBJECTIVE

Infants exposed to Zika virus (ZIKV) or diagnosed with congenital Zika syndrome (CZVS) may present dysphagia, regurgitation and other feeding difficulties. They may require special feeding practices to minimise the risk of mortality, morbidity and developmental problems. Improving knowledge, skills and behaviours of caregivers may preserve health, maximise development and promote quality of life among affected infants. We reviewed intervention studies of modified feeding practices and additional primary caregiver support to improve outcomes among infants 0 to 12 months of age exposed to ZIKV or diagnosed with CZVS.

METHODS

Rapid review and meta-analysis. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE and contacted experts. The search is current to 18 July 2020. We planned a meta-analysis using fixed-effect models; if unfeasible, we intended to summarise studies narratively. We planned to assess risk of bias of included studies and quality of evidence using Cochrane guidance.

RESULTS

We identified 42 records for title and abstract screening; 14 were eligible for full-text assessment. Among these, no intervention studies were found. Eight observational studies reported on the nutritional status, feeding practices and outcomes among infants affected by ZIKV or diagnosed with CZVS. They are presented and discussed to provide a basis for future research.

CONCLUSIONS

While no intervention studies were found, evidence from eight observational studies highlights the need for early nutrition interventions and caregiver support among infants affected by ZIKV or diagnosed with CZSV. More research is needed to assess whether modifications of feeding practices and provision of additional primary caregiver support will impact outcomes of interest.

Adaptive problems arising out of the progenitor's abandonment after Zika Congenital Syndrome

OBJECTIVE

to reveal the adaptive problems of the woman abandoned by the child's parent after Congenital Zika Syndrome, in the light of Roy's Adaptation Model.

METHOD

a qualitative, descriptive study, based on Roy's Adaptation Model, developed with six women abandoned by their child's parent after Zika Congenital Syndrome diagnosis, through interview and Content Analysis technique.

RESULTS

adaptive problems appeared in nutrition, activity, rest, and protection patterns, due to limitations in self-care; self-concept, related to dissatisfaction with body image and personal being; in the role of transition role, through difficulties in taking over new roles and in interdependence, related to changes in affective needs.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

the overload of care for children with Congenital Zika Syndrome, added to the challenges of the abandoned woman by her child's parent, led to adaptive problems, showing their main difficulties of coping.

[Mental health from the perspective of women affected by the Zika virus: an ethnographic study in Pará State, Brazil]

The current study reflects on the Zika virus outbreak that struck the Brazilian population, with both physical and emotional aspects for all those affected. There is a particular group that has to deal on a daily basis with all the difficulties imposed by this new reality: women. The basic assumption of this approach is the need to learn about, understand, and grasp these biopsychosocial issues in all their breadth. It becomes necessary to delve into a relatively new context that mainly affected poor black and brown Brazilian women with little schooling in order to improve attention to their reproductive rights and mental health. The study thus accessed the reality of women who had children with a diagnosis of microcephaly due to the Zika virus. An ethnographic study performed with a qualitative approach in a referral service for women and children's health in Pará State. The study showed that women in this situation were not listened or cared for, except with routine postpartum care. This shortcoming notwithstanding, the mental health of these women is affected from the beginning of the pregnancy. Thus, the family and social contexts become important for promoting discussions on the health practices and representations that Zika entails for women who have had their lives altered by a situation that sounded a huge alarm throughout Brazilian society.

[Social support as a protective factor for the mothers of children with Congenital Zika Syndrome]

Mothers of children with CZS face exceptional challenges caring for their offspring. Due to this reality, the availability of social support can function as an important protective factor. In this respect, this study aimed to evaluate the role of informal and formal social support in mental health, parental self-efficacy and satisfaction in the life of mothers of children with CZS. A total of 69 mothers of children with CZS (M = 26.4 years; SD = 6.23) living in the state of Ceará, Brazil participated in this study. They filled out the Social Support Satisfaction Scale, General Health Questionnaire, Parental Self-efficacy Scale and Satisfaction with Life Scale. The results show that the greater perception of informal social support significantly enables better mental health and satisfaction with life levels. In addition, access to formal social support significantly enables enhanced perception of parental self-efficacy. The results observed with the mothers of children with CZS are consistent with those reported in other studies with mothers of children with chronic conditions, pointing out that formal and informal social support have different effects on mental health, parental self-efficacy, and satisfaction with life, even controlling the effect of sociodemographic variables.

How do mothers feel? Life with children with congenital Zika syndrome

OBJECTIVE

To describe the repercussions, from the perspectives of caregiver mothers, of confirmed congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) in their offspring.

METHODS

A descriptive-exploratory study with a qualitative approach was carried out in the state of Espírito Santo in southeastern Brazil, with 25 women who had a child diagnosed with CZS.

RESULTS

Emerging themes from the content analysis were grouped into two categories: (1) inequalities experienced by mothers, including social inequality, poverty, and gender inequality; (2) the impact of a child with CZS on mothering, including feelings at the time of diagnosis, maternal isolation and mental health, experiences of stigma and prejudice, and exhausting itineraries searching for therapeutic care.

CONCLUSION

The repercussions of CZS were a huge burden on already vulnerable women, and social inequalities and poverty were important markers in the mothers' reports. Many of the families affected by CZS already lived in precarious social conditions and these conditions were exacerbated further. Robust public and social policies to support these mothers need effective implementation given that babies born with CZS need long-term care and support.

On the front line: Health professionals and system preparedness for Zika virus in Peru

Objectives

To analyze the initial healthcare response to the Zika virus in Piura, Peru, and assess the perceptions of midwives and nurses regarding their role in prevention of Zika virus and management of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS).

Methods

This ethnographic study used a rapid qualitative assessment design. Data were collected through a focus group with midwives and in‐depth interviews with midwives (n=11) and nurses (n=5).

Results

The focus of the early Zika virus response in Piura was on pregnant women and vector control. Midwives received some training on Zika‐related care during the early response. Nurses did not receive any Zika‐specific training. Neither nurses nor midwives were trained in neonatal CZS surveillance. Midwives were clear about the value and feasibility of incorporating Zika virus surveillance in their daily work, however nurses were not. They referred to lack of training and appropriate tools as limitations. Confusion about Zika virus and CZS symptomatology and effects persisted in both groups. Concerns about their own personal risk influenced the ways they engaged with Zika virus prevention in the community.

Conclusion

Long‐term management of endemic Zika virus in Piura will require the engagement of both nurses and midwives as primary care providers.

A cost‐effective and culturally competent approach should include a broader focus on family planning and child development surveillance. This requires cross‐disciplinary collaboration between nurses and midwives.

Brain abnormalities on neuroimaging in Children with Congenital Zika Syndrome in Salvador, Brazil, and its possible implications on neuropsychological development

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the spectrum of brain damages presented in children affected by Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS), verify the existence of a co-occurrence pattern of these damages and discuss possible implications for the neuropsychological development.

METHODS

Descriptive, quantitative, individualized, and cross-sectional study using secondary sources. We selected 136 children with CZS from the database of the Center of Strategic Information on Health Vigilance of the Municipal Office of Salvador, Brazil. We conducted descriptive and multiple correspondence analyses.

RESULTS

Among the set of analyzed variables, microcephaly (51.5%), ventriculomegaly (57.4%), and brain calcifications (77.2%) were identified as the most frequent. The multiple correspondence analysis showed that the combination of these three variables (32.4%) was what better represented the spectrum of brain damages in the Central Nervous System.

INTERPRETATION

Damage in the sensory-motor, cognitive and language development, as well as neurodevelopmental disorders, are described in the literature as impairments associated, either isolated or combined, with these damages, and it is worth highlighting that, in combined brain damages, impairments tend to be more severe. The findings of this study may contribute to understanding the repercussions of CZS on the neuropsychological development of children affected by the epidemic.

Changes in Occupational Roles and Common Mental Disorders in Mothers of Children With Congenital Zika Syndrome

IMPORTANCE

The functional limitations and long-term dependence of children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) may lead to changes in maternal occupational roles, which can have a negative impact on mothers' well-being and mental health.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate changes in occupational roles and their effects on the mental health of mothers who have a child with CZS.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Rehabilitation centers of the Brazilian Unified Health System in Alagoas, Northeast Brazil.

PARTICIPANTS

Forty mothers of children with CZS.

OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The Role Checklist and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 were used to assess the mothers' involvement in occupational roles and common mental disorders (CMDs), respectively. The relationship between changes in occupational roles and CMDs was analyzed using a logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Our study showed that loss of paid work (p = .026) is associated with poor mental health of mothers of children with CZS.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Strengthening public policies to reduce the economic impact of CZS on families, offering multidisciplinary counseling, and implementing psychoeducational strategies for promoting maternal psychological adjustment are needed.

WHAT THIS ARTICLE ADDS

The time and money spent by mothers in daily care activities for children with CZS contribute to a reduction in family income and social well-being and have a negative impact on mothers' mental health.

Repercussions on the family from the birth and care of children with multiple disabilities: a qualitative meta-synthesis

Multiple disabilities in children, present in various syndromes, involve physical, economic, and social problems and affect the parents of these children and their families. The attempt to learn more about this problem from a qualitative perspective gave rise to the current study's objective, namely to identify and summarize the scientific literature on the repercussions on the family from the birth and care of a child with multiple disabilities. This is a qualitative meta-synthesis of data from Scopus, PsycInfo, and SciELO, using the following descriptors: qualitative; children with disabilities; parent-child relations; family relations; and caregivers. The data were analyzed in three stages according to the method proposed by Noblit & Hare: extraction of first-order concepts; production of second-order concepts; and interpretative synthesis. After the search and eligibility process, eight studies were included, from which emerged six second-order concepts: social restriction; strain on family relations; feelings of affliction; financial instability; changes in the family dynamics; and stress to health and wellbeing. Three syntheses were developed, based on these concepts: disability and ideal parenthood; burden of care; and family redefinitions and adaptations. The studies showed that parents and families experience difficulties resulting from social representations of multiple disabilities and the burden of care (health problems, limitations to other activities, increased financial costs, and changes in the family's routine). They also indicate that these elements invade and can interfere in family and social relations.

Development and assessment of the feasibility of a Zika family support programme: a study protocol

The Zika virus outbreak in Brazil in 2015 affected thousands of people. Zika is now known to cause congenital malformations leading to impairments and developmental delays in affected children, including Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). Children with CZS have complex care needs. Caregivers require significant levels of support to meet these needs, and there are large gaps in healthcare services. This study aims to develop, pilot and assess the feasibility and scalability of a community-based Family Support Programme for caregivers of children with CZS. The programme is adapted from the Getting to Know Cerebral Palsy (GTKCP) programme for the context of CZS in Brazil. GTKCP is a 10-session programme held with 6-10 caregivers in the local community. It includes practical, educational, peer-support and psychosocial aspects, which aim to improve confidence and capacity to care for a child with CP, and quality of life and empowerment of caregivers. The research project contains four components: Ascertaining need for the caregiver programme: a mixed-methods approach that included two literature reviews, interviews with key stakeholders in country, and incorporation of findings from the Social and Economic Impact of Zika study.Adapting GTKCP for the context of CZS and Brazil: undertaken with guidance from technical experts.Pilot testing the intervention: deliver the 10-session programme to one group of caregivers of children with CZS in Rio de Janeiro and another in Greater Salvador.Update the manual through fast-track learning from participant and facilitator feedback. Assessing the feasibility of the intervention for scale up: deliver the updated programme to two groups each in Rio de Janeiro and Greater Salvador, and evaluate the acceptability, demand, implementation, practicality, adaptation, integration, expansion, and limited efficacy, through questionnaires, direct observation, semi-structured interviews and cost calculation. The project has ethics approval in both the UK and Brazil.

Nutritional profile of newborns with microcephaly and factors associated with worse outcomes

OBJECTIVE

To describe the nutritional profile of newborns with microcephaly and factors associated with worse outcomes during the first 14 days of life.

METHODS

This investigation is a longitudinal, descriptive study carried out in 21 full-term neonates exposed vertically to the Zika virus and hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit from February to September 2016. Patients receiving parenteral nutrition were excluded. Data analysis was performed using a generalized estimating equation model and Student's t-test to evaluate the association between worsening weight-for-age z-scores and independent clinical, sociodemographic and nutritional variables during hospitalization, with p<0.05 indicating significance.

RESULTS

During hospitalization, there was a decrease in the mean values of the weight-for-age z-scores. The factors associated with worse nutritional outcomes were symptomatic exposure to the Zika virus, low maternal schooling, absence of maternal income and consumption of infant formula (p<0.05). Calcification and severe microcephaly were also associated with poor nutritional outcomes. Energy and macronutrient consumption remained below the recommendations and had an upward trend during hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

The presence of cerebral calcification, the severity of microcephaly and symptomatic maternal exposure to Zika virus affected the nutritional status of newborns. In terms of nutritional factors, human milk intake had a positive impact, reducing weight loss in the first days of life. Other known factors, such as income and maternal schooling, were still associated with a poor nutritional status.

Family-Centered Early Intervention Program for Brazilian Infants with Congenital Zika Virus Syndrome: A Pilot Study

Aims: To evaluate the effects of a 16-week program based on Goals-Activity-Motor Enrichment (GAME) principles on infants with congenital Zika virus syndrome (CZS)'s mother report of functional goal achievement, motor and cognitive abilities, home enrichment, and parents' perceptions regarding the service provided. Methods: Quasi-experimental study with infants (n = 32) with CZS and their mothers. Twenty-two infants composed the GAME-based group and 10 were included in the control group. The primary outcome measure was the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Secondary outcome measures were the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, the Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development-Infant Scale, and the Measure of Processes of Care. All measures were performed by blinded assessors. Results: Mothers of infants in the GAME-based group reported significant improvements in their infants' performance on functional priorities (p = 0.0001) and satisfaction with their infants' performance (p = 0.0001), the extent in which services promoted enabling and partnership (p = 0.021), provided general information (p = 0.039), specific information (p = 0.0001), and an enriched home environment (p = 0.0001). Infants in both groups did not improve in motor or cognitive abilities. Conclusions: A family-centered early intervention program based on GAME principles improved mothers' individualized outcomes and enriched infants with CZS's environment. Future studies should elucidate long-term benefits of interventions for this population.

Motor Abnormalities and Epilepsy in Infants and Children With Evidence of Congenital Zika Virus Infection

Initial reports of congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection focused on microcephaly at birth with severe brain anomalies; the phenotype has broadened to include microcephaly that develops after birth and neurodevelopmental sequelae. In this narrative review, we summarize medical literature describing motor abnormalities and epilepsy in infants with evidence of congenital ZIKV infection and provide information on the impact of these conditions. Specific scenarios are used to illustrate the complex clinical course in infants with abnormalities that are consistent with congenital Zika syndrome. A search of the English-language medical literature was done to identify motor abnormalities and epilepsy in infants with evidence of congenital ZIKV infection by using Medline and PubMed, Embase, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Scopus, the OpenGrey Repository, and the Grey Literature Report in Public Health. Search terms included "Zika" only and "Zika" in combination with any of the following terms: "epilepsy," "seizure," "motor," and "cerebral palsy." Clinical features of motor abnormalities and epilepsy in these children were reviewed. Thirty-six publications were identified; 8 were selected for further review. Among infants with clinical findings that are consistent with congenital Zika syndrome, 54% had epilepsy and 100% had motor abnormalities. In these infants, impairments that are consistent with diagnoses of cerebral palsy and epilepsy occur frequently. Pyramidal and extrapyramidal motor abnormalities were notable for their early development and co-occurrence. Prompt identification of potential disabilities enables early intervention to improve the quality of life for affected children. Long-term studies of developmental outcomes and interventions in children with congenital ZIKV infection are needed.

ZikaPLAN: Zika Preparedness Latin American Network

The ongoing Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands has underlined the need for a coordinated research network across the whole region that can respond rapidly to address the current knowledge gaps in Zika and enhance research preparedness beyond Zika. The European Union under its Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme awarded three research consortia to respond to this need. Here we present the ZikaPLAN (Zika Preparedness Latin American Network) consortium. ZikaPLAN combines the strengths of 25 partners in Latin America, North America, Africa, Asia, and various centers in Europe. We will conduct clinical studies to estimate the risk and further define the full spectrum and risk factors of congenital Zika virus syndrome (including neurodevelopmental milestones in the first 3 years of life), delineate neurological complications associated with ZIKV due to direct neuroinvasion and immune-mediated responses in older children and adults, and strengthen surveillance for birth defects and Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Laboratory-based research to unravel neurotropism and investigate the role of sexual transmission, determinants of severe disease, and viral fitness will underpin the clinical studies. Social messaging and engagement with affected communities, as well as development of wearable repellent technologies against Aedes mosquitoes will enhance the impact. Burden of disease studies, data-driven vector control, and vaccine modeling as well as risk assessments on geographic spread of ZIKV will form the foundation for evidence-informed policies. While addressing the research gaps around ZIKV, we will engage in capacity building in laboratory and clinical research, collaborate with existing and new networks to share knowledge, and work with international organizations to tackle regulatory and other bottlenecks and refine research priorities. In this way, we can leverage the ZIKV response toward building a long-term emerging infectious diseases response capacity in the region to address future challenges.