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- Title
Experiences of maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in the North of England.
- Authors
Stacey, Tomasina; Darwin, Zoe; Keely, Alice; Smith, Anna; Farmer, Dáša; Heighway, Kate
- Abstract
Background: During 2020, UK maternity services made changes to service delivery in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aims: To explore service users' and their partners' experiences of maternity services in the North of England during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Respondents (n=606) completed a co-produced survey during August 2020. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. Findings: Five major categories were identified: valuing support from health professionals, feeling lost in and let down by the system, the impact of restrictions to partners and others, virtual contact is not the same as in-person contact, and the need for emotional and psychological wellbeing support. Conclusion: The changes implemented may have compromised mental health and wellbeing in a critical period of vulnerability. Bringing stakeholders together can maximise learning from the emergency measures, to better inform future service provision. Work is needed to better hear from minoritised groups and ensure they are not further marginalised by changes.
- Subjects
ENGLAND; MATERNAL health services; MEDICAL consultation; WELL-being; SOCIAL support; PSYCHOLOGICAL vulnerability; MENTAL health; PATIENTS' attitudes; PSYCHOLOGY of Spouses; QUALITATIVE research; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; CONTENT analysis; EMOTIONS; COVID-19 pandemic; TELEMEDICINE
- Publication
British Journal of Midwifery, 2021, Vol 29, Issue 9, p516
- ISSN
0969-4900
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.12968/bjom.2021.29.9.516