Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39177421›Full record

ArticleBirth (Berkeley, Calif.)2025

Experiences of attending prenatal ultrasounds during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: A cross-sectional survey.

Helen J Nightingale, Christina Watts, Kim Pham

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Birth (Berkeley, Calif.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

3 authors.

Helen J NightingaleRural Department of Nursing & Midwifery, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4337-3942
Christina WattsFaculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Kim PhamDepartment of Women's & Children's Services, Bendigo Health, Bendigo, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrenatal ultrasounds form an important part of routine maternity care in Australia and indeed internationally. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid changes in society and healthcare to curb transmission, with evidence demonstrating detrimental impacts on childbearing women associated with these restrictions. However, experiences with pandemic restrictions for prenatal ultrasounds in relation to distress, patient expectations, and satisfaction are largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the experiences of pregnant women attending prenatal ultrasound during the pandemic in Australia.

methodsA cross-sectional online survey of people in Australia who had undergone at least one prenatal ultrasound during the period of maternity care restrictions was performed. The survey included validated tools for assessing post-traumatic stress, satisfaction, and expectations with maternity care.

resultsA total of 1280 responses were obtained. Almost 37% of respondents returned a PCL-C score consistent with probable post-traumatic stress disorder. Unexpected ultrasound findings or a high PCL-C score were more likely to have higher expectations and lower levels of satisfaction with their maternity care experience. Having an ultrasound for pregnancy loss, fetal abnormality, and/or a prior post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis were the strongest factors correlating with a high PCL-C score. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms in the study population is concerning and elucidates the distress experienced in association with prenatal ultrasounds during pandemic restrictions in Australia. Maternity services should acknowledge the high levels of service consumers with post-trauma symptoms and consider trauma-responsive maternity care adaptations in response to adverse perinatal outcomes for those afflicted with post-trauma and distress-related symptoms.

Indexed as

COVID-19Patient SatisfactionPregnant PeopleStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticUltrasonography, PrenatalAdultAustraliaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansPregnancyPrenatal CareSARS-CoV-2Surveys and QuestionnairesYoung Adultpandemicprenatal careprenatal ultrasonographypsychological trauma

Identifiers

PMID39177421
PMCPMC11829269

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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.