Department of Midwifery Science, Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Midwifery Academy Amsterdam Groningen, InHolland, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
PLoS One. 2022 Nov 30;17(11):e0267415. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267415. eCollection 2022.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on women's birth experiences. To date, there are no studies that use both quantitative and qualitative data to compare women's birth experiences before and during the pandemic, across more than one country.
To examine women's birth experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare the experiences of women who gave birth in the United Kingdom (UK) or the Netherlands (NL) either before or during the pandemic.
This study is based on analyses of quantitative and qualitative data from the online Babies Born Better survey. Responses recorded by women giving birth in the UK and the NL between June and December 2020 have been used, encompassing women who gave birth between 2017 and 2020. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, and chi-squared tests were performed to compare women who gave birth pre- versus during pandemic and separately by country. Qualitative data was analysed by inductive thematic analysis.
Respondents in both the UK and the NL who gave birth during the pandemic were as likely, or, if they had a self-reported above average standard of life, more likely to rate their labour and birth experience positively when compared to women who gave birth pre-pandemic. This was despite the fact that those labouring in the pandemic reported a lack of support and limits placed on freedom of choice. Two potential explanatory themes were identified in the qualitative data: respondents had lower expectations of care during the pandemic, and they appreciated the efforts of staff to give individualised care, despite the rules.
Our study implies that many women labouring during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced restrictions, but their experience was mitigated by staff actions. However, personalised care should not be maintained by the good will of care providers, but should be a priority in maternity care policy to benefit all service users equitably.
COVID-19 大流行对女性的分娩体验产生了严重影响。迄今为止，尚无研究使用定量和定性数据比较一个以上国家在大流行前后女性的分娩体验。
检查 COVID-19 大流行期间女性的分娩体验，并比较在英国（英国）或荷兰（NL）分娩的女性在大流行前或大流行期间的体验。
本研究基于 Babies Born Better 在线调查的定量和定性数据分析。使用了 2020 年 6 月至 12 月期间在英国和 NL 分娩的女性记录的回复，包括 2017 年至 2020 年期间分娩的女性。定量数据进行描述性分析，并进行卡方检验比较大流行前和大流行期间分娩的女性以及按国家分别比较。定性数据采用归纳主题分析进行分析。
与大流行前分娩的女性相比，大流行期间在英国和 NL 分娩的受访者更有可能，或者如果她们的生活水平自评高于平均水平，则更有可能对她们的分娩体验给予积极评价。尽管如此，那些在大流行期间分娩的人报告缺乏支持，并限制了选择自由。定性数据中确定了两个潜在的解释性主题：受访者在大流行期间对护理的期望降低，并且他们赞赏工作人员在遵守规则的情况下尽力提供个性化护理。
我们的研究表明，许多在 COVID-19 大流行期间分娩的女性经历了限制，但工作人员的行动减轻了她们的体验。然而，个性化护理不应仅由护理提供者的善意维持，而应成为产妇保健政策的优先事项，以使所有服务使用者公平受益。
