Rachel Blankstein Breman1, Carrie Neerland2, Dani Bradley3, Adriane Burgess4, Erik Barr5, Paul Burcher6,7,8. 1. Department of Partnerships, Professional Education and Practice, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA. 2. University of Minnesota School of Nursing, Minneapolis, MN, USA. 3. Clinical Affairs, Ovia Health, Boston, MA, USA. 4. C-ONQS Program Director Women and Children Service Line, WellSpan Health, York, PA, USA. 5. University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA. 6. Wellspan, York Hospital, York, PA, USA. 7. Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA. 8. Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic forced hospitals in the United States to adjust policy and procedure in order to provide safe care and prevent the spread of disease. At the beginning of the pandemic, media and case reports described pressure for medical interventions, visitor restrictions, separation from newborns, and an increase in patient demand for community birth (home and birth center). The purpose of this study was to describe birth experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic centering the birthing person's perspective. METHODS: A survey was e-mailed to users of the Ovia Pregnancy app reaching a national convenience sample who gave birth between March 1, 2020, and June 11, 2020. Survey topics included birth location, the Mothers on Respect index, and open-ended questions capturing patient perspectives on the pandemic's effect on their birth experiences. Differences were assessed based on state-level COVID rate and by race. Content analysis was performed to analyze open-ended responses. RESULTS: Respondents from highly impacted COVID-19 states more frequently changed or considered changing their birth location. Racial differences were also found with Black respondents reporting significantly more preterm births and lower respect scores when compared to White respondents. Six themes emerged from the content analysis: Institutional Policies, Changes in Care, Hospital Staff Interactions, Sub-par Care, Issues of Support, and Mental Health. DISCUSSION: The health care community must continue to adapt policies and procedures to best support birthing patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The community must also continue to address the reality that Black patients receive less respectful care compared with White patients.
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic forced hospitals in the United States to adjust policy and procedure in order to provide safe care and prevent the spread of disease. At the beginning of the pandemic, media and case reports described pressure for medical interventions, visitor restrictions, separation from newborns, and an increase in patient demand for community birth (home and birth center). The purpose of this study was to describe birth experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic centering the birthing person's perspective. METHODS: A survey was e-mailed to users of the Ovia Pregnancy app reaching a national convenience sample who gave birth between March 1, 2020, and June 11, 2020. Survey topics included birth location, the Mothers on Respect index, and open-ended questions capturing patient perspectives on the pandemic's effect on their birth experiences. Differences were assessed based on state-level COVID rate and by race. Content analysis was performed to analyze open-ended responses. RESULTS: Respondents from highly impacted COVID-19 states more frequently changed or considered changing their birth location. Racial differences were also found with Black respondents reporting significantly more preterm births and lower respect scores when compared to White respondents. Six themes emerged from the content analysis: Institutional Policies, Changes in Care, Hospital Staff Interactions, Sub-par Care, Issues of Support, and Mental Health. DISCUSSION: The health care community must continue to adapt policies and procedures to best support birthing patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The community must also continue to address the reality that Black patients receive less respectful care compared with White patients.
Authors: Christina Collart; Caitlin Craighead; Susannah Rose; Richard Frankel; Brownsyne Tucker Edmonds; Uma Perni; Edward K Chien; Marissa Coleridge; Angela Ranzini; Ruth M Farrell Journal: Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle) Date: 2022-08-04
Authors: Mehmet Yilmaz; Şerif Aksin; Deniz Balsak; Fazil Avci; Osman Özdoğru; Bekir Helvacıoğlu; Mahmut Erdemoğlu; Yasemin Aboalhasan; Gülsüm Doğan Journal: Int J Clin Pract Date: 2022-09-22 Impact factor: 3.149