Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK.
Evidence-Base Practice Unit, University College London, London, N1 9JH, UK.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Aug 12;22(1):1026. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-08427-y.
Perinatal healthcare professionals (PHCPs) provide essential support to all parents in the perinatal period, including young parents aged 16-24, who are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the provision of perinatal services, and on perinatal healthcare professionals, caring for young parents in the UK.
A UK based qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with perinatal healthcare professionals (n = 17). Data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Two themes were identified describing perinatal healthcare professionals' perceptions of providing care to young parents during the pandemic. Perinatal healthcare professionals perceived that young parents' needs were amplified by the pandemic and that pandemic-related changes to the service, such as the use of telemedicine to replace face-to-face interactions, did not manage to successfully mitigate the increased feelings of anxiety and isolation experienced by young parents. Concerns were raised by perinatal healthcare professionals that these changes reduced young parent's access to vital support for themselves and their child and may contribute to exacerbating pre-existing inequalities.
This study provides insight into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of perinatal care to young parents. Perinatal mental health professionals felt these negative impacts could be overcome by using a blended approach of technology and face-to-face interactions allowing regular contact with young parents and facilitating the exchange of vital information, while maintaining access to opportunities for social interactions with other parents. Findings from this study could be used to future-proof services against further COVID-19 restrictions.
围产期医护人员（PHCP）为围产期的所有父母提供重要支持，包括年龄在 16-24 岁的年轻父母，他们的发病率和死亡率更高。关于 COVID-19 限制对英国围产期服务以及围产期医护人员照顾年轻父母的影响知之甚少。
本研究采用基于英国的定性研究方法，对围产期医护人员（n=17）进行半结构式访谈。使用主题分析对数据进行分析。
确定了两个主题，描述了围产期医护人员在大流行期间为年轻父母提供护理的看法。围产期医护人员认为，大流行放大了年轻父母的需求，并且服务的大流行相关变化，例如使用远程医疗代替面对面的互动，未能成功减轻年轻父母所经历的焦虑和孤立感增加。围产期医护人员担心这些变化会减少年轻父母获得重要支持的机会，从而加剧先前存在的不平等现象。
本研究深入了解了 COVID-19 大流行对向年轻父母提供围产期护理的影响。围产期心理健康专业人员认为，可以通过使用技术和面对面互动相结合的混合方法来克服这些负面影响，从而定期与年轻父母保持联系，并促进重要信息的交流，同时保持与其他父母进行社交互动的机会。本研究的结果可用于为未来的 COVID-19 限制做好服务准备。
