ArticleWomen and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives2022
Childbearing women's experiences of the maternity care system in Australia during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article in Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 20 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
20 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 18 citations in OpenAlex.
- Women's experiences of maternity care in high-income countries during the pandemic health system shock: a follow-up systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- Women's views and experiences of breastfeeding during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A systematic review of qualitative evidence.Maternal & child nutrition · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Parental experiences with changes in maternity care during the Covid-19 pandemic: A mixed-studies systematic review.Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives · 2023Pooled it
- Navigating through motherhood in pregnancy and postpartum periods during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis.Journal of nursing management · 2022Pooled it
- Postpartum retention in opioid agonist treatment for opioid dependence: A population-based cohort study.Archives of women's mental health · 2026Article
- Pregnant and postpartum women's experiences of the indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in high-income countries: a qualitative evidence synthesis.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2024Article
- A Qualitative Investigation of the Experiences of Women with Perinatal Depression and Anxiety during the COVID-19 Pandemic.Maternal and child health journal · 2024Article
- Freedom for some, but not for Mum: the reproductive injustice associated with pandemic 'Freedom Day' for perinatal women in the United Kingdom.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- Experiences of Norwegian co-parents during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions: A qualitative study.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2023Article
- Reflective, pragmatic, and reactive decision-making by maternity service providers during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic health system shock: a qualitative, grounded theory analysis.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2023Article
- Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions in Childbirth and Puerperium: A Cross-Sectional Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Article
- Large gaps in the quality of healthcare experienced by Swedish mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study based on WHO standards.Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives · 2022Article
- Mixed-Methods Study of the Experience of Pregnancy During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN · 2022Article
- COVID-19 Special Issue - The Impact of COVID-19 on women, babies, midwives, and midwifery care.Women and birth : journal of the Australian College of Midwives · 2022Article
- Indonesian midwives' perspectives on changes in the provision of maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.Midwifery · 2022Article
- Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Telehealth on Antenatal Screening and Services, Including for Mental Health and Domestic Violence: An Australian Mixed-Methods Study.Frontiers in global women's health · 2022Article
- Birth Experience, Postpartum PTSD and Depression before and during the Pandemic of COVID-19 in Russia.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Psychosocial issues and coping mechanisms of pregnant and postnatal women diagnosed with COVID-19: A qualitative study.Women's health (London, England)Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSubstantial changes occurred in Australian healthcare provision during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the risk of infection transmission. Little is known about the impact of these changes on childbearing women.
aimTo explore and describe childbearing women's experiences of receiving maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.
methodsA qualitative exploratory design using semi-structured interviews was used. Women were recruited through social media and self-nominated to participate in an interview. Maximum variation sampling was used. Twenty-seven interviews were conducted with women from across Australia. Data was analysed thematically.
findingsThree primary themes and nine sub-themes emerged: 'navigating a changing health system' (coping with constant change, altered access to care, dealing with physical distancing restrictions, and missing care), 'desiring choice and control' (experiencing poor communication, making hard decisions, and considering alternate models of care), and 'experiencing infection prevention measures' (minimising the risk of exposure and changing care plans to minimise infection risk). DISCUSSION: The substantial changes in care delivery for pregnant and postpartum women during the pandemic appear to have reduced woman-centred care. In most cases, care was perceived as impersonal and incomplete, resulting in a very different experience than expected; consequences included missing care. The presence of a known care provider improved women's sense of communication, choice, and control.
conclusionThis study provides unique insight into the experiences of childbearing women across Australia. The importance of respectful woman-centred care cannot be forgotten during a pandemic. The findings may inform future service planning during pandemics and disaster situations.
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