Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41761124›Full record

Observational studyBMC pregnancy and childbirth2026

Partners' childbirth experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic - findings from the Swedish COPE prospective cohort study.

Eva Uhlander, Sara Isell, Sofie Arnkil, Johanna Berg, Gustaf Biasoletto, Marie Blomberg, Ylva Carlsson, Linda Hjertberg, Anna Sand, Anna-Karin Wikström and 3 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readMulticenter StudyObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04433364 (COPE - COVID-19 in Pregnancy and Early Childhood - a Study Protocol for a Prospective Multicentre Cohort Study), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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.

NCT04433364 active not recruitingnot on this map

COPE - COVID-19 in Pregnancy and Early Childhood - a Study Protocol for a Prospective Multicentre Cohort Study

Typeobservational_patient_registrySponsorSahlgrenska University HospitalRan2020 to 2040Enrolled3,834ConditionsSars-CoV2, Covid-19, Pregnancy Complications, Pregnancy PretermArmsbiological samples, questionnaires and interviews
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

13 authors.

Eva Uhlander *Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 457, Gothenburg, 405 30, Sweden.
Sara Isell *Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 457, Gothenburg, 405 30, Sweden.
Sofie ArnkilRegion Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Johanna BergDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Gustaf BiasolettoDepartment of Women's Health, Region Jämtland Härjedalen, Östersund Hospital, Östersund, Sweden.
Marie BlombergDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Ylva CarlssonRegion Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Linda HjertbergRegion Östergötland, Vrinnevisjukhuset, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Norrköping, Sweden.
Anna SandDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Anna-Karin WikströmDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Mehreen ZaighamObstetrics and Gynecology, Institution for Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Verena Sengpiel *Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Karolina Linden *Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 457, Gothenburg, 405 30, Sweden. karolina.linden@gu.se.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted maternity care and limited partner involvement during childbirth. While partners play an important role during pregnancy and birth, their own experiences remain understudied. This study aimed to measure partners’ childbirth experience during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine associations with relevant variables.

methodsThis cross-sectional, prospective cohort study was part of the Swedish multicentre COVID-19 during Pregnancy and Early Childhood Study (COPE). Data were collected through electronic questionnaires and national health and quality registers. Childbirth experience was measured using the Fathers for the First Time Questionnaire (FTFQ), comprising of four dimensions: ‘Worry’ (concerns about safety and emotional reactions), ‘Information’ (perceived adequacy and relevance of information), ‘Acceptance’ (feeling welcomed and acknowledged by staff), and ‘Emotional support’ (experiences of guidance and reassurance during birth). Hierarchical multiple linear regression was used to examine associations with selected variables.

resultsA total of 365 partners (54.5% first-time parents) were recruited between June 2020 and December 2022. Mean (SD) FTFQ scores (range 0–4, lower scores indicate a more positive experience) were: ‘Worry’ 2.1 (0.7), ‘Information’ 1.7 (0.5), ‘Acceptance’ 1.3 (0.4), and ‘Emotional support’ 2.1 (0.7). Partners who did not experience the birth as expected, were exposed to a complicated birth, or reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression during pregnancy had more negative childbirth experiences, particularly regarding ‘Worry’ and ‘Information’.

conclusionsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, partners who reported unmet expectations of childbirth, exposure to birth complications, or antenatal symptoms of anxiety and/or depression appeared to be particularly vulnerable to more negative childbirth experiences, especially in the dimensions ‘Worry’ and ‘Information’. These findings underscore the importance of identifying psychological vulnerability and unmet informational needs among partners during pregnancy and birth, and of fostering communication strategies that promote inclusion and emotional safety in the childbirth setting.

trial registrationNCT04433364 06/02/2020.

Indexed as

COVID-19FathersParturitionAdultAnxietyCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMalePregnancyProspective StudiesSARS-CoV-2Surveys and QuestionnairesSwedenAnxietyBirth experienceCOVID-19 pandemicDepressionFatherFathers for the first time questionnaireHospital anxiety and depression scalePaternal mental healthSense of coherenceSweden

Identifiers

PMID41761124
PMCPMC12955138

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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.