“COVID Affected Us All:” The Birth and Postnatal Health Experiences of Resettled Syrian Refugee Women During COVID-19 in Canada

Abstract

Background: Prior to COVID-19, postnatal resettled refugee women in Canada reported barriers to healthcare and low levels of social support, contributing to maternal health morbidities. The COVID-19 pandemic appears to be further exacerbating health inequities for marginalized populations—yet the experiences of resettled refugee women are not fully known. Aim: To understand Syrian refugee women’s experiences accessing postnatal healthcare services and supports during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with eight resettled Syrian refugee women living in Nova Scotia (Canada) who were postnatal between March and August 2020. Data analysis was informed by constructivist grounded theory. Findings: Three themes emerged: “the impacts of COVID-19 on postnatal healthcare;” “loss of informal support;” and “grief and anxiety.” Women experienced difficult healthcare interactions, including socially and physically isolated deliveries, challenges accessing in-person interpreters, and cancelled or unavailable in-home services (e.g., public health nurse and doula visits). Increased childcare responsibilities and limited informal supports due to pandemic restrictions left women feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Stay-at-home orders resulted in some women reporting feelings of isolation and loss, as they were unable to share in person postnatal moments with friends and family, ultimately impacting their mental wellness. Conclusions: COVID-19 and associated public health restrictions had significant impacts on postnatal Syrian refugee women. Data presented in this study demonstrated the ways in which the pandemic environment and related restrictions amplified pre-existing barriers to care and postnatal health inequalities for resettled refugee women—particularly a lack of postnatal informal supports and systemic barriers to care.

Utilization of Postnatal Care Services among Thai Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Web-Based Survey

“…A study from central Ethiopia supports these findings, revealing that women who did not fear COVID-19 infection were about three times more likely to utilize maternal health services during the pandemic in comparison to those who feared infection [ 36 ]. Several studies reported that the fear of becoming infected in hospitals was the reason for lower PNC use [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”

“…Nevertheless, this essential service is neglected, with more emphasis placed on antenatal and intrapartum care [ 6 ]. Moreover, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), emerging from the Hubei Province in the People’s Republic of China in December 2019 and subsequently spreading throughout the world, has resulted in alterations to healthcare structures and processes, such as reduced maternity service provision, including PNC [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. However, to our knowledge, only a few studies have examined the PNC uptake using a quantitative approach during the pandemic in Ethiopia [ 13 ], Bangladesh [ 14 ], and the UK [ 15 ].…”

“…Many studies have reported that the fear of COVID-19 infection hindered the uptake of maternity care services [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Good COVID-19 knowledge and attitude improve the overall practice of preventative measures aimed at reducing the burden of the disease.…”