Birth attendants’ lived experiences of caring for pregnant women suspected to or diagnosed with Covid 19 in labor and delivery ward based on a phenomenological approach

Abstract

Abstract Background Covid 19 pandemic has imposed the increased workload and challenges to birth attendants while providing the required care for delivery in mothers. However, so far, no study has been performed based on the experiences and views of this group. The present study was performed with the aim of filling the existing research gap in this field by exploring the real time experiences of birth attendants in caring for suspected/infected pregnant mothers during the pandemic. Methods The present research is a qualitative phenomenological study that was conducted on birth attendants (midwives and doctors) of pregnant women suspected/infected with covid-19 in the delivery department of teaching hospitals located in Mashhad, Iran, from March to May 2020. The qualitative data was collected about the real time experiences of the participants and was analyzed by six methodological steps proposed by Van Menen (1990). Results Interviews were performed with 12 birth attendants working in teaching hospitals. Four final themes were obtained about the real time experience of this group for caring pregnant women suspected/infected with Covid-19 in the delivery department. These themes included: "lost peace", "spirituality", "pride" and "looking forward to a better future". Conclusion The final results indicated that despite the fact that midwives/gynecologists played a valuable role as obstetricians in the frontline of the fight against the Covid-19 disease, they faced many challenges in various occupational, personal, and emotional dimensions. By the way, structural organizational policies are recommended to provide midwives/gynecologists an equal and safe position to fully perform their profession and a have healthy relationship within the family.