Observational studyBMJ open2024
Quality of care at childbirth during the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium: a cross-sectional study based on WHO standards.
Observational study in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04847336 (IMAGINE EURO), which is not on this map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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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.
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.
IMAGINE EURO (Improving MAternal Newborn carE In the EURO Region): Maternal and Newborn Health Service Preparedness, Quality and Resilience, Among Countries of the WHO European Region, During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Experiences of disrespect and abuse during childbirth in the World Health Organization European region: A mixed-method study among 22 countries.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026Article
- Feeling wronged: maternity care experiences of black, Sub-Saharan African migrant women living in Belgium during COVID-19.Frontiers in global women's health · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesTo examine quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC) around childbirth in facilities in Belgium during the COVID-19 pandemic and trends over time.
designA cross-sectional observational study.
settingData of the Improving MAternal Newborn carE in the EURO region study in Belgium.
participantsWomen giving birth in a Belgian facility from 1 March 2020 to 1 May 2023 responded a validated online questionnaire based on 40 WHO standards-based quality measures organised in four domains: provision of care, experience of care, availability of resources and organisational changes related to COVID-19. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Quantile regression analysis was performed to assess predictors of QMNC; trends over time were tested with the Mann-Kendall test.
results897 women were included in the analysis, 67% (n=601) with spontaneous vaginal birth, 13.3% (n=119) with instrumental vaginal birth (IVB) and 19.7% (n=177) with caesarean section. We found overall high QMNC scores (median index scores>75) but also specific gaps in all domains of QMNC. On provision of care, 21.0% (n=166) of women who experienced labour reported inadequate pain relief, 64.7% (n=74) of women with an instrumental birth reported fundal pressure and 72.3% (n=86) reported that forceps or vacuum cup was used without their consent. On experience of care, 31.1% (n=279) reported unclear communication, 32.9% (n=295) reported that they were not involved in choices,11.5% (n=104) stated not being treated with dignity and 8.1% (n=73) experienced abuse. Related to resources, almost half of the women reported an inadequate number of healthcare professionals (46.2%, n=414). Multivariable analyses showed significantly lower QMNC scores for women with an IVB (-20.4 in the 50th percentile with p<0.001 and 95% CI (-25.2 to -15.5)). Over time, there was a significant increase in QMNC Score for 'experience of care' and 'key organisational changes due to COVID-19' (trend test p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Our study showed several gaps in QMNC in Belgium, underlying causes of these gaps should be explored to design appropriate interventions and policies. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04847336.
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