Kolié Delphin, Semaan Aline, Day Louise-Tina, Delvaux Thérèse, Delamou Alexandre, Benova Lenka
African Centre of Excellence for the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, University of Conakry, Conakry, Guinea.
Ministry of Health, Centre National de Formation et de Recherche en Santé Rurale de Maferinyah, Forecariah, Guinea.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2022 Aug 5;2(8):e0000602. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000602. eCollection 2022.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have substantial impacts on health systems globally. This study describes experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, and physical, psychological and economic impacts among maternal and newborn healthcare providers. We conducted a global online cross-sectional survey of maternal and newborn healthcare providers. Data collected between July and December 2020 included demographic characteristics, work-related experiences, and physical, psychological, and economic impacts of COVID-19. Descriptive statistics of quantitative data and content analysis of qualitative data were conducted. Findings were disaggregated by country income-level. We analysed responses from 1,191 maternal and newborn healthcare providers from 77 countries: middle-income 66%, high-income 27%, and low-income 7%. Most common cadres were nurses (31%), midwives/nurse-midwives (25%), and obstetricians/gynaecologists (21%). Quantitative and qualitative findings showed that 28% of respondents reported decreased workplace staffing levels following changes in staff-rotation (53%) and staff self-isolating after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (35%); this led to spending less time with patients, possibly compromising care quality. Reported insufficient access to personal protective equipment (PPE) ranged from 12% for gloves to 32% for N-95 masks. Nonetheless, wearing PPE was tiresome, time-consuming, and presented potential communication barriers with patients. 58% of respondents reported higher stress levels, mainly related to lack of access to information or to rapidly changing guidelines. Respondents noted a negative financial impact-a decrease in income (70% among respondents from low-income countries) concurrently with increased personal expenditures (medical supplies, transportation, and PPE). Negative physical, psychological and economic impacts of COVID-19 on maternal and newborn healthcare providers were ongoing throughout 2020, especially in low-income countries. This can have severe consequences for provision and quality of essential care. There is need to increase focus on the implementation of interventions aiming to support healthcare providers, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries to protect essential health services from disruption.
新冠疫情继续对全球卫生系统产生重大影响。本研究描述了新冠疫情期间的经历，以及孕产妇和新生儿医疗保健提供者所遭受的身体、心理和经济影响。我们对孕产妇和新生儿医疗保健提供者开展了一项全球在线横断面调查。2020年7月至12月收集的数据包括人口统计学特征、与工作相关的经历，以及新冠疫情的身体、心理和经济影响。对定量数据进行了描述性统计，并对定性数据进行了内容分析。研究结果按国家收入水平进行了分类。我们分析了来自77个国家的1191名孕产妇和新生儿医疗保健提供者的回复：中等收入国家占66%，高收入国家占27%，低收入国家占7%。最常见的人员类别是护士（31%）、助产士/助产护士（25%）和妇产科医生（21%）。定量和定性研究结果表明，28%的受访者报告称，在人员轮岗变化（53%）和接触新冠病毒后自我隔离（35%）后，工作场所的人员配备水平下降；这导致与患者相处的时间减少，可能会影响护理质量。报告称个人防护装备（PPE）获取不足的比例从手套的12%到N95口罩的32%不等。尽管如此，穿戴个人防护装备既累人又耗时，还会给与患者沟通带来潜在障碍。58%的受访者报告称压力水平增加，主要与信息获取不足或指南快速变化有关。受访者指出了负面的经济影响——收入减少（低收入国家受访者中有70%），同时个人支出增加（医疗用品、交通和个人防护装备）。2020年全年，新冠疫情对孕产妇和新生儿医疗保健提供者持续产生负面的身体、心理和经济影响，尤其是在低收入国家。这可能会对基本护理的提供和质量产生严重后果。有必要更加关注旨在支持医疗保健提供者的干预措施的实施，特别是中低收入国家的医疗保健提供者，以保护基本卫生服务不受干扰。
