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Strategies to support maternal and early childhood wellness: insight from parent and provider qualitative interviews during the COVID-19 pandemic.


ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in rapid changes to the delivery of maternal and newborn care. Our aim was to gain an understanding from parents and healthcare professionals (HCPs) of how the pandemic and associated public health restrictions impacted the peripartum and postpartum experience, as well as longer-term health and well-being of families.

Design

Qualitative study through focus groups.

Setting

Ontario, Canada.

Participants

HCPs and parents who had a child born during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interventions

Semistructured interview guide, with questions focused on how the pandemic impacted their care/their ability to provide care, and strategies to improve care and support now or in future situations with similar healthcare restrictions.

Outcome measures

Thematic analysis was used to describe participant experiences and recommendations.

Results

We included 11 HCPs and 15 parents in 6 focus groups. Participants described their experiences as 'traumatic', with difficulties in accessing prenatal and postpartum services, and feelings of distress and isolation. They also noted delays in speech and development in children born during the pandemic. Key recommendations included the provision of partner accompaniment throughout the course of care, expansion of available services for young families (particularly postpartum), and special considerations for marginalised groups, including access to technology for virtual care or the option of in-person visits.

Conclusions

Our findings may inform the development of healthcare system and organisational policies to ensure the provision of maternal and newborn care in the event of future public health emergencies. Of primary importance to the participants was the accommodation of antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum partner accompaniment, and the provision of postpartum services.

SUBMITTER: Simpson AN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10824034 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Strategies to support maternal and early childhood wellness: insight from parent and provider qualitative interviews during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Simpson Andrea N AN   Baxter Nancy N NN   Sorvari Anne A   Boury Himani H   Shore Eliane M EM   Bogler Tali T   Campbell Douglas D   Gagliardi Anna R AR  

BMJ open 20240125 1


<h4>Objectives</h4>The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in rapid changes to the delivery of maternal and newborn care. Our aim was to gain an understanding from parents and healthcare professionals (HCPs) of how the pandemic and associated public health restrictions impacted the peripartum and postpartum experience, as well as longer-term health and well-being of families.<h4>Design</h4>Qualitative study through focus groups.<h4>Setting</h4>Ontario, Canada.<h4>Participants</h4>HCPs and parents who had  ...[more]

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