Sunita Panda1, Deirdre O'Malley2, Paula Barry3, Nora Vallejo3, Valerie Smith2. 1. School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Dublin Trinity College, 24 D'Olier Street, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: spanda@tcd.ie. 2. School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Dublin Trinity College, 24 D'Olier Street, Dublin, Ireland. 3. The Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dolphins Barn, Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To gain insight and understanding of women's views and experiences of maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews. Due to social distancing and associated COVID-19 restrictions at the time of the study, the interviews were held remotely via telephone. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview data. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: A large urban tertiary referral maternity unit (greater than 8000 births per year) in the Republic of Ireland. Women of low and high obstetric risk, primiparous and multiparous, who gave birth in April or May of 2020 were eligible for inclusion. Women were invited to take part via a hospital-based gatekeeper who had no other involvement in the study. FINDINGS: Nineteen women consented to take part and were interviewed. Four dominant themes reflective of women's views and experiences emerged during data analysis. These were: 'navigating the system', 'at the end of the day it's just you', 'preparing for and adapting to uncertainty' and 'blessing in disguise'. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Women experienced added challenges as a result of COVID-19 associated altered care structures and processes. Some changes implemented in response to the pandemic were positively experienced by women. The findings will contribute to and assist in planning future services for women and their partners, and in tailoring care to meet women's expectations and needs as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and beyond.
OBJECTIVE: To gain insight and understanding of women's views and experiences of maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews. Due to social distancing and associated COVID-19 restrictions at the time of the study, the interviews were held remotely via telephone. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the interview data. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: A large urban tertiary referral maternity unit (greater than 8000 births per year) in the Republic of Ireland. Women of low and high obstetric risk, primiparous and multiparous, who gave birth in April or May of 2020 were eligible for inclusion. Women were invited to take part via a hospital-based gatekeeper who had no other involvement in the study. FINDINGS: Nineteen women consented to take part and were interviewed. Four dominant themes reflective of women's views and experiences emerged during data analysis. These were: 'navigating the system', 'at the end of the day it's just you', 'preparing for and adapting to uncertainty' and 'blessing in disguise'. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Women experienced added challenges as a result of COVID-19 associated altered care structures and processes. Some changes implemented in response to the pandemic were positively experienced by women. The findings will contribute to and assist in planning future services for women and their partners, and in tailoring care to meet women's expectations and needs as the COVID-19 pandemic continues and beyond.
Authors: Eleni Hadjigeorgiou; Paris Vogazianos; Maria-Dolores Christofi; Emma Motrico; Sara Domínguez-Salas; Ana R Mesquita; Andri Christoforou Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2022-09-05 Impact factor: 3.105