Abstract
AbstractBackgroundIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, expectant parents experienced changes in the availability and uptake of both NHS community and hospital-based healthcare.ObjectiveTo examine how COVID-19 and its societal related restrictions have impacted the provision of healthcare support for pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodA thematic analysis using an inductive approach was undertaken of data from open-ended responses using data from the national COVID in Context of Pregnancy, Infancy and Parenting (CoCoPIP) Study online survey (N = 507 families).ResultsThe overarching theme identified was the way in which the changes to healthcare provision increased parents’ anxiety levels, and feelings of not being supported. Five sub-themes, associated with the first wave of the pandemic, were identified: (1) rushed and/or fewer antenatal appointments, (2) lack of sympathy from healthcare workers, (3) lack of face-to-face appointments, (4) requirement to attend appointments without a partner, and (5) requirement to use PPE. A sentiment analysis, that used quantitative techniques, revealed participant responses to be predominantly negative (50.1%), with a smaller proportion of positive (21.8%) and neutral (28.1%) responses found.ConclusionThis study provides evidence indicating that the changes to healthcare services for pregnant women during the pandemic increased feelings of anxiety and have left women feeling inadequately supported. Our findings highlight the need for compensatory social and emotional support for new and expectant parents while COVID-19 related restrictions continue to impact on family life and society.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Reference18 articles.
1. Concerns of women regarding pregnancy and childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic;Patient Education and Counseling,2020
2. Barlow, J. , Bach-Mortensen, A. , Homonchuk, O. , & Woodman, J. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on services from pregnancy through age 5 years for families who are high risk of poor outcomes or who have complex social needs.
3. Best Beginnings, Home-Start UK, and the Parent-Infant Foundation UK. (2020). Babies in Lockdown: Listening to parents to build back better.
4. Perinatal Distress During COVID-19: Thematic Analysis of an Online Parenting Forum;Journal of Medical Internet Research,2020
5. Moms are not ok: COVID-19 and maternal mental health;Frontiers in Global Women’s Health,2020
Cited by
4 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献