Journal article
Giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic, perspectives from a sample of the United States birthing persons during the first wave: March-June 2020
Birth (Berkeley, Calif.), v 48(4), pp 524-533
01 Dec 2021
PMID: 34114262
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
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.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Giving birth during the COVID-19 pandemic, perspectives from a sample of the United States birthing persons during the first wave: March-June 2020
- Creators
- Rachel Blankstein Breman - Department of Partnerships, Professional Education and Practice, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA.Carrie Neerland - University of MinnesotaDani Bradley - Clinical Affairs, Ovia Health, Boston, MA, USA.Adriane Burgess - WellSpan HealthErik Barr - University of Maryland, BaltimorePaul Burcher - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Birth (Berkeley, Calif.), v 48(4), pp 524-533
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 10
- Grant note
- 1UL1TR003098--01 / University of Maryland, Baltimore, Institute for Clinical and Translational Research
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000659765300001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85107513647
- Other Identifier
- 991019167962004721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Nursing
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Pediatrics