Women’s experiences of maternity care in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic: A follow-up systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis

Women and Birth, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 37(3), P. 101588 - 101588

Published: March 1, 2024

Maternity care services in the United Kingdom have undergone drastic changes due to pandemic-related restrictions. Prior research has shown maternity during pandemic was negatively experienced by women and led poor physical mental health outcomes pregnancy. A synthesis is required of published on women's experiences latter half COVID-19 pandemic.

Language: Английский

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A consensus statement on perinatal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations for post-pandemic recovery and re-build

Frontiers in Global Women s Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: Feb. 21, 2024

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic posed a significant lifecourse rupture, not least to those who had specific physical vulnerabilities the virus, but also were suffering with mental ill health. Women and birthing people pregnant, experienced perinatal bereavement, or in first post-partum year (i.e., perinatal) exposed number of risk factors for health, including alterations way which their care was delivered. Methods A consensus statement derived from cross-disciplinary collaboration experts, whereby evidence collaborative work on health during synthesised, priorities established as recommendations research, healthcare practice, policy. Results synthesis research focused effect outcomes practices led three immediate recommendations: what retain, reinstate, remove provision. Longer-term action made, categorised follows: Equity Relational Healthcare; Parity Esteem Mental Physical Healthcare an Emphasis Specialist Perinatal Services; Horizon Scanning Health Research, Policy, & Practice. Discussion base is growing. This synthesises said makes post-pandemic recovery re-build services

Language: Английский

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Impact of COVID-19 on access to and delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare services in countries with universal healthcare systems: A systematic review

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(2), P. e0294744 - e0294744

Published: Feb. 23, 2024

Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unforeseen impacts on sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) services worldwide, the nature prevalence of these changes have not been extensively synthesized. We sought to synthesise reported outcomes impact SRH access delivery in comparable countries with universal systems. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL from January 1st, 2020 June 6th, 2023. Original research was eligible for inclusion if study and/or delivery. Twenty-eight OECD economies systems were included. extracted characteristics, participant design, outcome variables. methodological quality each article assessed using Quality Assessment Diverse Studies (QuADS) tool. Preferred Reporting Items Systematic Reviews Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines followed reporting results. This registered PROSPERO (#CRD42021245596). Synthesis Eighty-two studies met criteria. Findings qualitatively synthesised into domains of: antepartum care, intrapartum postpartum assisted technologies, abortion access, gynaecological health services, HIV care. Research concentrated relatively few countries. Access negatively impacted by a variety factors, including service disruptions, unclear communication regarding policy decisions, decreased timeliness fear exposure. Across outpatient providers favoured models care that avoided in-person appointments. Hospitals prioritized reduced time number people hospital aerosol-generating environments. Conclusions Overall, demonstrated across most during COVID-19. Variations restrictions accommodations heterogeneous within between institutions. Future work should examine long-term COVID-19, underserved populations, underrepresented

Language: Английский

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The social and healthcare professional support drawn upon by women antenatally during the COVID-19 pandemic: A recurrent, cross-sectional, thematic analysis

Midwifery, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 133, P. 103995 - 103995

Published: April 9, 2024

To explore antenatal experiences of social and healthcare professional support during different phases distancing restriction implementation in the UK. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via telephone or video-conferencing software between 13 July 2020 – 2 September 2020. Interviews transcribed a recurrent, cross-sectional, thematic analysis was conducted. Twelve women interviewed UK restrictions March (Timepoint 1; T1) separate sample twelve initial easing these May 2; T2). T1 themes were: 'Maternity care as non-essential' 'Pregnancy is cancelled'. T2 'Technology polarised tool' 'Clinically vulnerable, not clinically vulnerable? That question'. At T1, anxieties ascribed to exclusion partners from routine care, perceived insensitivity aggression public. For T2, insufficient Governmental transparency led disillusionment, confusion, anger. Covert workplace discrimination also caused distress at T2. Across timepoints: deteriorated mental wellbeing attributed depleted opportunities interact socially scaled back maternity care. Recommendations are made to: protect maternal autonomy; improve quality health signposting; prioritise parental community re-opening 'non-essential' services; option for face-to-face appointments when safe legal; protecting rights working mothers.

Language: Английский

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Knights in shining armour and (M)others in life jackets: Women’s experiences of advocating for care alone when suffering recurrent early pregnancy loss during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

BMC Public Health, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 25(1)

Published: Jan. 29, 2025

Abstract Background Recurrent early pregnancy loss [rEPL] is a traumatic experience, marked by feelings such as grief and depression, often anxiety. Despite this, the psychological consequences of rEPL are overlooked, particularly when considering future reproductive health or approaching subsequent pregnancies. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to significant reconfiguration maternity care negative impact on perinatal but specific women’s experience has yet be explored. This study aimed examine changes social restrictions during rEPL. Methods A qualitative interview design was employed, with semi-structured interviews conducted virtually. total 16 women who had suffered two more losses (≤ 14 weeks gestation) in United Kingdom participated. Data were recorded, transcribed, analysed hand, following Classical Grounded Theory Analysis, appropriate for cross-disciplinary research. Results Iterative inductive analysis generated theory ‘Knights Shining Armour (M)others Life Jackets’, which describes advocating alone, suffering pandemic. derived from way three emergent themes inter-related: (1) Dismantling Validation; (2) Preserving an Identity Motherhood; (3) Support Waning. Conclusions affirms recent findings devalued pandemic, magnification pre-pandemic issues EPL care, lack support perceived empathy.

Language: Английский

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Reflective, pragmatic, and reactive decision-making by maternity service providers during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic health system shock: a qualitative, grounded theory analysis

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(1)

Published: May 20, 2023

Pregnant and postpartum women were identified as having particular vulnerability to severe symptomatology of SARS-CoV-2 infection, so maternity services significantly reconfigured their care provision. We examined the experiences perceptions staff who provided during pandemic in South London, United Kingdom - a region high ethnic diversity with varied levels social complexity.We conducted qualitative interview study, part service evaluation between August November 2020, using in-depth, semi-structured interviews range (N = 29) working services. Data analysed Grounded Theory analysis appropriate cross-disciplinary health research.Maternity healthcare professionals views, experiences, delivering pandemic. Analysis rendered three emergent themes regarding decision-making provision, organised into pathways: 1) 'Reflective decision-making'; 2) 'Pragmatic 3) 'Reactive decision-making'. Whilst pragmatic was found disrupt care, reactive-decision-making perceived devalue offered provided. Alternatively, reflective decision-making, despite difficult conditions pandemic, seen benefit services, regards high-quality, sustainability staff, innovation within service.Decision-making take forms where at best changes could be innovative, worst they cause devaluation being delivered, more often than not, these disruptive. With regard positive changes, providers empowerment, flexible patterns (both for themselves collectively teams), personalised delivery, change-making general, key areas capitalise on current ongoing innovations borne out Key learnings included focus care-related, meaningful listening engagement all levels, order drive forward high-quality avoid disruption devaluation.

Language: Английский

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The antenatal psychological experiences of women during two phases of the COVID-19 pandemic: A recurrent, cross-sectional, thematic analysis

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 18(6), P. e0285270 - e0285270

Published: June 8, 2023

Initial COVID-19-related social distancing restrictions, imposed in the UK March 2020, and subsequent lifting of restrictions May 2020 caused antenatal disruption stress which exceeded expected vulnerabilities associated with this lifecourse transition. The current study aimed to explore psychological experiences women during different phases pandemic-related lockdown UK. Semi-structured interviews were held 24 about their experiences: twelve interviewed after initial (Timepoint 1; T1), a separate those 2; T2). Interviews transcribed recurrent, cross-sectional thematic analysis was conducted. Two themes identified for each timepoint, theme contained sub-themes. T1 were: 'A Mindful Pregnancy' 'It's Grieving Process', T2 'Coping Lockdown Restrictions' 'Robbed Our Pregnancy'. COVID-19 related had an adverse effect on women's mental health period. Feeling trapped, anxious, abandoned common at both timepoints. Actively encouraging conversations wellbeing routine care adopting prevention opposed cure attitude toward implementing additional support provisions may serve improve crises.

Language: Английский

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Healthcare providers’ experiences of maternity care service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom: a follow-up systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis

Frontiers in Global Women s Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5

Published: Nov. 28, 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was substantial reconfiguration of maternity care services, affecting both users and healthcare providers (HCPs), in United Kingdom (UK) globally.

Language: Английский

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A longitudinal qualitative study of women’s experiences of postnatal care following hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Women and Birth, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 36(5), P. 460 - 468

Published: March 14, 2023

There has been little focus on women's views of care and recovery following pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders [HDP] despite long-term implications for maternal health.Increasingly in clinical research, areas interest include the extent to which women are involved postnatal planning, perceived value routine contacts, lifestyle behaviour advice, ongoing concerns about HDP could be discussed with healthcare professionals.This study explored experiences birth-recovery up 12 months HDP.A longitudinal qualitative using semi-structured interviews at four postpartum. Twenty-four who each had a form HDP, were recruited maximum variation, purposive sampling strategy from National Health Service maternity units London, 21 whom interviewed both time points. Data collected analysed timepoint recurrent, cross-sectional cohort approach template analysis methodology.Four main themes ten sub-themes identified. Main included: assumptions blood pressure; perinatal experiences; pathways; managing complex health conditions.Postnatal needs tailored individual review relevant clinicians during beyond first six weeks. Many have information status, treatment prognoses, future birth planning.Policy makers, providers funders cannot continue ignore need ensure services meet experienced medically pregnancies.

Language: Английский

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Freedom for some, but not for Mum: the reproductive injustice associated with pandemic ‘Freedom Day’ for perinatal women in the United Kingdom

Frontiers in Public Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: Aug. 7, 2024

Introduction Healthcare services for pregnant and postpartum (‘perinatal’) women were reconfigured significantly at the advent duration of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, despite United Kingdom announcing ‘Freedom Day’ on 19 July 2021 (whereafter all legal lockdown-related restrictions lifted), to maternity (antenatal, intrapartum, postnatal) remained. This study presents data from eight perinatal about their experiences psychosocial wellbeing care in post-‘Freedom epoch. Methods Semi-structured interviews conducted virtually, with recorded, transcribed, analysed by hand. Grounded theory analysis was employed final assessing reproductive injustice pandemic Day’. Results Analysing iteratively inductively led four emergent themes: ‘A Failing System, Women’; ‘Harm Caused a State Difference’; ‘The Privileges (Not Rights) Reproductive Autonomy, Agency, Advocacy’; ‘Worried Women Marginalised Mothers’. Together, these themes form some, but not Mum’. Discussion experienced lack high-quality reliable information vaccination against virus, changes to, decision-making surrounding, care. recognised healthcare professionals stretched that failing often reported hostility staff abandonment times when they unsure how navigate The most singular disparity between having accept continuing freedom whilst receiving (reckless) being enacted general public.

Language: Английский

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