A cross sectional study of midwifery students’ experiences of COVID-19: Uncertainty and expendability

Abstract

The impact of COVID-19 on midwifery students is anticipated to be multi-faceted. Our aim was to explore Australian midwifery students’ experiences of providing maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a cross-sectional study 147 students were recruited through social media. Data were collected through an online survey and semi-structured interviews. Surveys were analysed using descriptive statistics; interviews and open text responses were interpreted through qualitative analysis. Findings revealed students found communication from hospitals and universities to be confusing, inconsistent and they relied on mass media and each other to remain updated. Moving to online learning and being isolated from peers made learning difficult. During clinical placements, students felt expendable in terms of their value and contribution, reflected in essential equipment such as personal protective equipment not always being available to them. Witnessing perceived compromised midwifery care increased students’ emotional burden, while personal household responsibilities and financial concerns were problematic. One silver lining witnessed was women’s appreciation of an improved ‘babymoon’, with fewer visitors, allowing uninterrupted time to establish breastfeeding and connection with their baby. Findings may guide management of midwifery education during future pandemics or health crises for universities and hospitals..

Morally Injurious Experiences and Emotions of Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic Before Vaccine Availability

“…Consistent with other qualitative studies on previous outbreaks, HPs faced numerous stressors, such as the fear of catching COVID-19 and spreading it to others; uncertainty about the virus, the disease, and the future; stigmatization, short-staffing, and inadequate PPE. 22 , 26 , 27 …”

“…Consistent with other qualitative studies on previous outbreaks, HPs faced numerous stressors, such as the fear of catching COVID-19 and spreading it to others; uncertainty about the virus, the disease, and the future; stigmatization, short-staffing, and inadequate PPE. 22,26,27 Across separate cohorts of HPs in 2020, the level of moral injury increased dramatically, and functional impairment from moral injury symptoms nearly doubled. 14 This qualitative study adds additional context to these numbers; the emotions reported-isolation, alienation, betrayalsignificantly overlapped with the symptoms of moral injury in military and veteran populations.…”

COVID-19’s Negative Impacts on Clinical Learning and Proposed Compensation Mechanisms Among Undergraduate Midwifery and Nursing Students of Jimma University

“…Our data collection instrument was a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire established after reviewing relevant literature. 6,12,[14][15][16][17] It involved three sections: socio-demographic characteristics (nine questions), COVID-19's negative impacts on clinical learning (twelve questions), and proposed compensation mechanisms for ending long-term COVID-19 negative impacts on clinical learning (four questions). English version questionnaire was used to collect data.…”

Saúde mental dos discentes de Enfermagem mediante a pandemia do COVID-19: revisão integrativa da literatura

“…Como apontado anteriormente, a necessidade de canal oficial é de suma importância para facilitar o aprendizado e conhecimento sobre como lidar em campo prático. Por isso, vale a pena que as universidades se juntem para proporcionar a esse discente, além de conhecimento teórico, mais conhecimento prático(Kuliukas et al, 2021).Kochuvilayil e colaboradores (2021) compararam conhecimento, ansiedade, preocupações acadêmicas e comportamentos preventivos entre estudantes de enfermagem na Austrália e na Índia, durante a pandemia COVID-19. Foram analisados 99 estudantes australianos e indianos.…”