The first case of the ZIKA Virus (ZIKV) was confirmed in Brazil, in May 2015, and after its rapid spread across the continent, it was declared a National Health Emergency by Brazil in November 2015. Although ZIKV often only presents as a rash in pregnant women, it has more serious consequences for exposed new-borns, including microcephaly, developmental delays, hearing and visual impairments, seizures and learning disabilities. These are often classified under the term Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) (De Barros Miranda- Filho et al., 2016). It is already established that caring for a child with complex needs can have impacts upon maternal mental health, financial status, family well-being and societal inclusion (Emerson et al., 2006), and these challenges can be made more acute by the challenging conditions in which some vulnerable families live (Faria et al., 2016). Moreover, the affected children are now at a crucial stage of development, making it timely to introduce psychosocial interventions to support both children and their parents. Hospitals in Brazil have responded with volunteer rehabilitation programmes and longer term solutions are now being created to meet the medical needs of the children affected by CZS, but these services have faced challenges including funding problems. Our project meets this gap by building on the now robust evidence that music is a powerful tool for improving psychological and social wellbeing (Fancourt & Finn, 2019). Our previous research has shown, for example, that music can support social interactions in people with special educational needs and disabilities (Lisboa et al., 2021); that group singing can speed up recovery from postnatal depression in new mothers (Fancourt & Perkins, 2018a); and that singing can also support perceived mother-infant closeness (Fancourt & Perkins, 2018b). There is also evidence that music benefits children's sensory-motor and cognitive development (Braccialli, 2013). This project explored whether and how music can support families affected by ZIKV.
Agência de Fomento: The British Academy, Knowledge Frontiers: International Interdisciplinary Projects 2019
