Midwives’ experiences of providing maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

Bradfield, Zoe; Hauck, Yvonne; Homer, Caroline; Sweet, Linda; Wilson, Alyce N.; Szabo, Rebecca A; Wynter, Karen; Vasilevski, Vidanka; Kuliukas, Lesley

doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2021.02.007

Cited by 60 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Modifications include changes to midwifery care across hospitals and communities, with new policies predominantly focused on reducing viral transmission by minimising face to face encounters [ 7 , 8 ]. Key impacts for midwifery care include inconsistent advice regarding the effectiveness of personal protective equipment [PPE], particularly in high-risk areas such as birthing; inconsistent access to PPE; extensive uptake of telehealth; restrictions on the presence of partners and support people; adjustments to screening for common conditions in pregnancy; and, a temporary ban on waterbirth that was enforced during the Victorian lockdown [ 7 , 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In many instances, changes to care have separated women from their families [ 10 ]. Emerging evidence demonstrates that for some women, the stress inflicted by separation has increased experiences of isolation, loneliness, anxiety, depression, and birth trauma [ [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] ]. New research also documents the inequitable effects of restrictions for those who require greater flexibility and support to engage with care [ 12 , 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Inequities that can impact on a woman’s capacity to understand or comply with changes to directives include health literacy, migration, knowledge of English, poverty, substance use, homelessness, family violence, or the absence of a support network [ 12 , 14 , 15 ]. Midwives are often responsible for enforcing restrictions and may feel complicit in increasing distress and disadvantage for women during the pandemic [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A cross-sectional descriptive study, published by Women and Birth in March 2021, is one of the first peer-reviewed research papers to address the pandemic experiences of Australian midwives [ 8 ]. This paper reports that 97% of the 620 respondents were required to change their practice due to COVID-19, and 62% felt that physical distancing requirements had a negative impact on woman-centred care [ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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No one asked us: Understanding the lived experiences of midwives providing care in the north west suburbs of Melbourne during the COVID-19 pandemic: An interpretive phenomenology

et al. 2022

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Problem Within the Victorian healthcare system, a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated frequent and ongoing changes to midwifery practice. Background Midwives are a vital workforce at risk of burnout, attrition, and trauma. Emotional consequences of the pandemic for midwives remain largely unknown. Aim To understand the lived experiences of midwives providing care in the north west suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria during the pandemic. Methods Purposive and snowball sampling facilitated the recruitment of eight midwives in the north west suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria. Semi-structured interviews were audio recorded and transcribed, occurring via telephone or video between September and October 2020. Interpretive phenomenology was the methodology used, informed by the writings of Heidegger and Gadamer. Findings Insights gleaned from the data embody a range of understandings. The unknown cost of change and adaptation; waves of the virus; balancing risk; telehealth; personal protective equipment; stripping away support; the privilege of abiding by the restrictions; separation, distress, uncertainty; and, professional strength. Discussion Experiences of midwives during the pandemic are characterised by sensations of voicelessness and professional invisibility. Distinctive differences in personal wellbeing and professional satisfaction exist between midwives working with and without continuity of care. Conclusion This paper voices the lived experiences of Victorian midwives, in the midst of an extended lockdown, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowledge obtained from this research provides important understandings for leaders, policymakers, and healthcare systems, in planning a long-term response to the pandemic that supports the wellbeing and longevity of a vital workforce.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

No one asked us: Understanding the lived experiences of midwives providing care in the north west suburbs of Melbourne during the COVID-19 pandemic: An interpretive phenomenology

et al. 2022

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“…Findings of our first round global survey also strengthen this argument as midwives reported serious concerns about protecting women and newborns 12 . In a study of midwives' experiences of providing maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, researchers found that stress affected midwives' ability to provide quality maternity care; midwives experienced direct and indirect stress due to fear of getting infected and infecting others and the potential negative consequences of reduced face to face care on the health of women and newborns 37 . The midwives' concern is supported by a recent meta-analysis of 40 studies that found a significant increase in maternal death, postnatal depression, and still birth during the COVID-19 pandemic that are partly attributable to delayed and substandard care 38 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of COVID-19 on the provision of respectful maternity care: findings from a global survey of health workers

Asefa

Semaan

Delvaux

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background Significant adjustments to the provision of maternity care in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the direct impacts of COVID-19 can compromise the quality of maternal and newborn care. Aim To explore how the COVID-19 pandemic affected frontline health workers' ability to provide respectful maternity care globally. Methods We conducted a global online survey of health workers to assess the provision of maternal and newborn healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected quantitative and qualitative data between July and December 2020 and conducted a qualitative content analysis to explore open-ended responses. Findings Health workers (n=1,127) from 71 countries participated; and 120 participants from 33 countries provided qualitative data. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the provision of respectful maternity care in multiple ways. Six central themes were identified: less family involvement, reduced emotional and physical support for women, compromised standards of care, increased exposure to medically unjustified caesarean section, and staff overwhelmed by rapidly changing guidelines and enhanced infection prevention measures. Further, respectful care provided to women and newborns with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection was severely affected due to health workers' fear of getting infected and measures taken to minimise COVID-19 transmission. Discussion Multidimensional and contextually-adapted actions are urgently needed to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision and continued promotion of respectful maternity care globally in the long-term. Conclusions The measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the quality of care provided to women during labour and childbirth generally, and respectful maternity care specifically. Keywords Maternal health; Quality of care; Labour; Childbirth; Newborn health; Intrapartum care, Antenatal care, Postnatal care

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The COPE Staff study: Study description and initial report regarding job satisfaction, work‐life conflicts, stress, and burnout among Swedish maternal and neonatal healthcare workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Åkerström

Sengpiel

Hadžibajramović

et al. 2023

Intl J Gynecology & Obste

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ObjectiveTo describe the study design of the COPE Staff cohort study on working conditions for maternal and neonatal healthcare workers (MNHCWs), and present baseline data regarding job satisfaction, work‐life conflicts, stress, and burnout.MethodsBetween January and April 2021, 957 MNHCWs (administrative and medical staff) completed a baseline survey. Average levels of job satisfaction, work‐life conflicts, stress, and burnout, and associations to perceived workload were assessed.ResultsThe average levels of job satisfaction, work‐life conflicts, stress, and burnout were 68.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 64.3–72.8), 42.6 (95% CI 37.3–48.0), 42.0 (95% CI 37.7–46.3), and 1.9 (95% CI 1.6–2.2), respectively. The respondents scoring above critical values indicating clinical burnout ranged between 3% and 18%, respectively, for the four burnout sub‐dimensions. Women reported significantly higher levels of stress and burnout. Younger participants had lower job satisfaction and higher levels of work‐life conflicts, stress, and burnout. Higher perceived workload was significantly associated with lower job satisfaction levels and higher levels of work‐life conflicts, stress, and burnout.ConclusionsOur results indicate associations between MNHCWs perceived workload and job satisfaction, work‐life conflicts, stress, and burnout during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Eighteen percent scored above critical values for exhaustion.

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Midwives’ experiences of providing maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

Cited by 60 publications

References 13 publications

No one asked us: Understanding the lived experiences of midwives providing care in the north west suburbs of Melbourne during the COVID-19 pandemic: An interpretive phenomenology

No one asked us: Understanding the lived experiences of midwives providing care in the north west suburbs of Melbourne during the COVID-19 pandemic: An interpretive phenomenology

The impact of COVID-19 on the provision of respectful maternity care: findings from a global survey of health workers

The COPE Staff study: Study description and initial report regarding job satisfaction, work‐life conflicts, stress, and burnout among Swedish maternal and neonatal healthcare workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic

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