Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34592953›Full record

ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2021

Concerns about transmission, changed services and place of birth in the early COVID-19 pandemic: a national survey among Danish pregnant women. The COVIDPregDK study.

Katja Schrøder, Lonny Stokholm, Katrine Hass Rubin, Jan Stener Jørgensen, Ellen Aagaard Nohr, Lone Kjeld Petersen, Mette Bliddal

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 20 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Observational
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Katja SchrøderResearch Unit of User Perspectives, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. kschroeder@health.sdu.dk.
Lonny StokholmOPEN - Open Patient Data Explorative Network, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, and Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
Katrine Hass RubinOPEN - Open Patient Data Explorative Network, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, and Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
Jan Stener JørgensenResearch Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Clinical Research, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.
Ellen Aagaard NohrResearch Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Clinical Research, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.
Lone Kjeld PetersenResearch Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Clinical Research, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, 5000, Odense C, Denmark.
Mette BliddalOPEN - Open Patient Data Explorative Network, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, and Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
University of Southern Denmark · DKOdense University Hospital · DK

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic caused great uncertainty about causes, treatment and mortality of the new virus. Constant updates of recommendations and restrictions from national authorities may have caused great concern for pregnant women. Reports suggested an increased number of pregnant women choosing to give birth at home, some even unassisted ('freebirth') due to concerns of transmission in hospital or reduction in birthplace options. During April and May 2020, we aimed to investigate i) the level of concern about coronavirus transmission in Danish pregnant women, ii) the level of concern related to changes in maternity services due to the pandemic, and iii) implications for choice of place of birth.

methodsWe conducted a nationwide cross-sectional online survey study, inviting all registered pregnant women in Denmark (n = 30,009) in April and May 2020.

resultsThe response rate was 60% (n = 17,995). Concerns of transmission during pregnancy and birth were considerable; 63% worried about getting severely ill whilst pregnant, and 55% worried that virus would be transmitted to their child. Thirtyeight percent worried about contracting the virus at the hospital. The most predominant concern related to changes in maternity services during the pandemic was restrictions on partners' attendance at birth (81%). Especially nulliparous women were concerned about whether cancelled antenatal classes or fewer physical midwifery consultations would affect their ability to give birth or care for their child postpartum.. The proportion of women who considered a home birth was equivalent to pre-pandemic home birth rates in Denmark (3%). During the temporary discontinue of public home birth services, 18% of this group considered a home birth assisted by a private midwife (n = 125), and 6% considered a home birth with no midwifery assistance at all (n = 41).

conclusionDanish pregnant womens' concerns about virus transmission to the unborn child and worries about contracting the virus during hospital appointments were considerable during the early pandemic. Home birth rates may not be affected by the pandemic, but restrictions in home birth services may impose decisions to freebirth for a small proportion of the population.

Indexed as

Birth SettingMaternal Health ServicesAdultAnxietyCOVID-19Cross-Sectional StudiesDenmarkFemaleHumansMidwiferyParturitionPregnancyPregnant PeopleSARS-CoV-2SpousesSurveys and QuestionnairesCOVID-19Place of birthPregnancyPregnancy-related concernsSurvey study

Identifiers

PMID34592953
PMCPMC8482735
OpenAlexW3204453744

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.