Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37403018›Full record

ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2023

Being pregnant and becoming a parent during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative study with women in the Born in Bradford COVID-19 research study.

Cath Jackson, June Brawner, Matthew Ball, Kirsty Crossley, Josie Dickerson, Nimarta Dharni, Diego Garcia Rodriguez, Ella Turner, Laura Sheard, Helen Smith

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
1.2field-weighted citation impact, top 21% 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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. The experience of pregnancy in the COVID-19 pandemic.Revista brasileira de ginecologia e obstetricia : revista da Federacao Brasileira das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetricia · 2025
    Article
  2. 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

10 authors at 8 institutions in 1 country.

Cath JacksonValid Research Ltd, Sandown House, Sandbeck Way, Wetherby, LS22 7DN, UK. cath@validresearch.co.uk.
June BrawnerRoyal Society, London, UK.
Matthew BallJustice Studio, 10 Portfleet Place, De Beauvoir Road, London, N1 5SZ, UK.
Kirsty CrossleyBradford Institute for Health Research, Temple Bank House, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford, BD9 6RJ, UK.
Josie DickersonBradford Institute for Health Research, Temple Bank House, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford, BD9 6RJ, UK.
Nimarta DharniInstitute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Diego Garcia RodriguezFaculty of Social Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Ella TurnerJustice Studio, 10 Portfleet Place, De Beauvoir Road, London, N1 5SZ, UK.
Laura SheardYork Trials Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD, York, UK.
Helen SmithAnthrologica, Oxford, UK.
Bradford Royal Infirmary · GBMinistry of Justice · GBAnthrologica · GBRoyal Society · GBUniversity of Birmingham · GBUniversity of Nottingham · GBUniversity of York · GBValid International (United Kingdom) · GB

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/S037527/1Medical Research Council MR/V027905/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUncertainty around the risk of COVID-19 to pregnant women and their babies prompted precautionary restrictions on their health and care during the pandemic. Maternity services had to adapt to changing Government guidance. Coupled with the imposition of national lockdowns in England and restrictions on daily activities, women's experiences of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, and their access to services, changed rapidly. This study was designed to understand women's experiences of pregnancy, labour and childbirth and caring for a baby during this time.

methodsThis was an inductive longitudinal qualitative study, using in-depth interviews by telephone with women in Bradford, UK, at three timepoints during their maternity journey (18 women at timepoint one, 13 at timepoint two and 14 at timepoint three). Key topics explored were physical and mental wellbeing, experience of healthcare services, relationships with partners and general impact of the pandemic. Data were analysed using the Framework approach. A longitudinal synthesis identified over-arching themes.

resultsThree longitudinal themes captured what was important to women: (1) women feared being alone at critical points in their maternity journey, (2) the pandemic created new norms for maternity services and women's care, and (3) finding ways to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic in pregnancy and with a baby.

conclusionsModifications to maternity services impacted significantly on women's experiences. The findings have informed national and local decisions about how best to direct resources to reduce the impact of COVID-19 restrictions and the longer-term psychological impact on women during pregnancy and postnatally.

Indexed as

COVID-19Maternal Health ServicesCommunicable Disease ControlFemaleHumansPandemicsParentsParturitionPregnancyPregnant PeopleQualitative ResearchAntenatalBirthCOVID-19Health visitorMaternityMidwifePandemicPerinatalPostnatalPregnancy

Identifiers

PMID37403018
PMCPMC10320984
OpenAlexW4383067490

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.