Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37351531›Full record

ArticleHealth equity2023

Supporting Birthing People and Supporting Doulas: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on a Community-Based Doula Organization in San Francisco.

Ashley Nguyen, Stephanie Arteaga, Marlee-I Mystic, Alli Cuentos, Marna Armstead, Jennet Arcara, Andrea V Jackson, Cassondra Marshall, Anu Manchikanti Gomez

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Health equity, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Virtual Doula Support After the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: Strengths, Limitations, and Adaptations.Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health · 2026
    Article
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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

9 authors.

Ashley NguyenSchool of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.
Stephanie ArteagaSexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.
Marlee-I MysticSisterWeb San Francisco Community Doula Network, San Francisco, California, USA.
Alli CuentosSisterWeb San Francisco Community Doula Network, San Francisco, California, USA.
Marna ArmsteadSisterWeb San Francisco Community Doula Network, San Francisco, California, USA.
Jennet ArcaraSexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.
Andrea V JacksonDepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Family Planning, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
Cassondra MarshallSchool of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.
Anu Manchikanti GomezSexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9461-4411

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Beginning in March 2020, health care systems in the United States restricted the number of support people who could be present during pregnancy-related care to reduce the spread of COVID-19. We aimed to describe how SisterWeb, a community-based doula organization that employs Black, Pacific Islander, and Latinx doulas in San Francisco, California, adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: As part of process and outcome evaluations conducted through an academic-community partnership, we interviewed SisterWeb doulas, mentors, and leaders in 2020, 2021, and 2022 ( Results: SisterWeb leadership remained committed to safeguarding doulas by shifting to virtual support until doulas were onboarded as benefitted employees. Doulas reported hospital policies impacted clients' pregnancy-related care. Initially, doulas adapted to virtual support by connecting with clients more frequently through phone and text. When permitted to meet in person, doulas adjusted to client preference. Finally, as the pandemic impacted doulas' well-being, they turned to mentors for emotional support. Discussion and Health Equity Implications: This analysis contributes to a growing body of literature describing doulas' experiences during the pandemic. By shifting to virtual support, SisterWeb leaders prioritized the health, safety, and financial stability of doulas, who were members of communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Our findings suggest that public health guidance, organizational COVID-19 precautions, and hospital policies hindered SisterWeb's goal of ensuring clients receive equitable medical care. In addition, we found that emotional support for doulas is vital to their work.

Indexed as

community doulacommunity networkCOVID-19ethical issuematernal health servicesmental healthpublic health

Identifiers

PMID37351531
PMCPMC10282965

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.