Experiences of receiving and providing maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: A five-cohort cross-sectional comparison.

Bradfield, Z; Wynter, K; Hauck, Y; Vasilevski, V; Kuliukas, L; Wilson, AN; Szabo, RA; Homer, CSE; Sweet, L

Experiences of receiving and providing maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: A five-cohort cross-sectional comparison.

Bradfield, Z Wynter, K Hauck, Y Vasilevski, V Kuliukas, L Wilson, AN Szabo, RA Homer, CSE Sweet, L

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Publisher:: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: PLoS One, 2021, 16, (3)
Issue Date:: 2021-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Bradfield, Z
dc.contributor.author	Wynter, K
dc.contributor.author	Hauck, Y
dc.contributor.author	Vasilevski, V
dc.contributor.author	Kuliukas, L
dc.contributor.author	Wilson, AN
dc.contributor.author	Szabo, RA
dc.contributor.author	Homer, CSE
dc.contributor.author	Sweet, L
dc.date.accessioned	2021-10-07T05:33:22Z
dc.date.available	2021-03-01
dc.date.available	2021-10-07T05:33:22Z
dc.date.issued	2021-01
dc.identifier.citation	PLoS One, 2021, 16, (3)
dc.identifier.issn	1932-6203
dc.identifier.issn	1932-6203
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/150892
dc.description.abstract	Introduction The global COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the way health care is delivered in many countries around the world. Evidence on the experience of those receiving or providing maternity care is important to guide practice through this challenging time. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Australia. Five key stakeholder cohorts were included to explore and compare the experiences of those receiving or providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women, their partners, midwives, medical practitioners and midwifery students who had received or provided maternity care from March 2020 onwards in Australia were recruited via social media and invited to participate in an online survey released between 13th May and 24th June 2020; a total of 3701 completed responses were received. Findings While anxiety related to COVID-19 was high among all five cohorts, there were statistically significant differences between the responses from each cohort for most survey items. Women were more likely to indicate concern about their own and family’s health and safety in relation to COVID-19 whereas midwives, doctors and midwifery students were more likely to be concerned about occupational exposure to COVID-19 through working in a health setting than those receiving care through attending these environments. Midwifery students and women’s partners were more likely to respond that they felt isolated because of the changes to the way care was provided. Despite concerns about care received or provided not meeting expectations, most respondents were satisfied with the quality of care provided, although midwives and midwifery students were less likely to agree. Conclusion This paper provides a unique exploration and comparison of experiences of receiving and providing maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Findings are useful to support further service changes and future service redesign. New evidence provided offers unique insight into key stakeholders’ experiences of the rapid changes to health services.
dc.format	Electronic-eCollection
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Public Library of Science (PLoS)
dc.relation.ispartof	PLoS One
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1371/journal.pone.0248488
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	General Science & Technology
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Attitude to Health
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Cohort Studies
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Delivery of Health Care
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Health Personnel
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Maternal Health Services
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Pandemics
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	SARS-CoV-2
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Cohort Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Attitude to Health
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Health Personnel
dc.subject.mesh	Maternal Health Services
dc.subject.mesh	Delivery of Health Care
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Pandemics
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	SARS-CoV-2
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Attitude to Health
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	Cohort Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Delivery of Health Care
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Health Personnel
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Maternal Health Services
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Pandemics
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	SARS-CoV-2
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires
dc.title	Experiences of receiving and providing maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia: A five-cohort cross-sectional comparison.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	16
utslib.location.activity	United States
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - WHO CC
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2021-10-07T05:33:18Z
pubs.issue	3
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	16
utslib.citation.issue	3

Abstract:

Introduction The global COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the way health care is delivered in many countries around the world. Evidence on the experience of those receiving or providing maternity care is important to guide practice through this challenging time. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Australia. Five key stakeholder cohorts were included to explore and compare the experiences of those receiving or providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women, their partners, midwives, medical practitioners and midwifery students who had received or provided maternity care from March 2020 onwards in Australia were recruited via social media and invited to participate in an online survey released between 13th May and 24th June 2020; a total of 3701 completed responses were received. Findings While anxiety related to COVID-19 was high among all five cohorts, there were statistically significant differences between the responses from each cohort for most survey items. Women were more likely to indicate concern about their own and family’s health and safety in relation to COVID-19 whereas midwives, doctors and midwifery students were more likely to be concerned about occupational exposure to COVID-19 through working in a health setting than those receiving care through attending these environments. Midwifery students and women’s partners were more likely to respond that they felt isolated because of the changes to the way care was provided. Despite concerns about care received or provided not meeting expectations, most respondents were satisfied with the quality of care provided, although midwives and midwifery students were less likely to agree. Conclusion This paper provides a unique exploration and comparison of experiences of receiving and providing maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. Findings are useful to support further service changes and future service redesign. New evidence provided offers unique insight into key stakeholders’ experiences of the rapid changes to health services.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/150892