Women's experiences of changes to childbirth and parenting education in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic: The birth in the time of COVID-19 (BITTOC) study.

Levett, KM; Sutcliffe, KL; Keedle, H; Dahlen, H

Women's experiences of changes to childbirth and parenting education in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic: The birth in the time of COVID-19 (BITTOC) study.

Levett, KM Sutcliffe, KL Keedle, H Dahlen, H

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Sex Reprod Healthc, 2023, 38, pp. 100904
Issue Date:: 2023-12

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Levett, KM
dc.contributor.author	Sutcliffe, KL
dc.contributor.author	Keedle, H
dc.contributor.author	Dahlen, H
dc.date.accessioned	2024-03-07T06:01:16Z
dc.date.available	2023-08-27
dc.date.available	2024-03-07T06:01:16Z
dc.date.issued	2023-12
dc.identifier.citation	Sex Reprod Healthc, 2023, 38, pp. 100904
dc.identifier.issn	1877-5756
dc.identifier.issn	1877-5764
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/176284
dc.description.abstract	OBJECTIVE: As changes to Childbirth and Parenting Education (CBPE) classes during the COVID-19 pandemic remain unexplored in Australia, our objective was to understand how changes to CBPE in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on women's birth and postnatal experiences. METHODS: Survey responses were received from 3172 women (1343 pregnant and 1829 postnatal) for the 'Birth In The Time Of Covid-19 (BITTOC)' survey (August 2020 to February 2021) in Australia. One of the survey questions asked women if they had experienced changes to CBPE class schedules or format during the pandemic, with a follow up open ended text box inviting women to comment on the impact of these changes. The majority of women experienced changes to CBPE, with only 9 % stating they experienced no changes to classes. A content analysis was undertaken on the 929 open text responses discussing the impact these changes had on women's experience of pregnancy, birth and postpartum. RESULTS: 929 women (29 %) made 1131 comments regarding changes to CBPE classes during the pandemic. The main finding 'I felt so unprepared', highlights how women perceived the cessation or alteration of classes impacted their birth preparation, with many reporting an increased sense of isolation. Some women reported feeling 'It was good enough' with adequate provision of online classes, and others feeling 'I was let down by the system' due to communication and technological barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the importance of ensuring continued provision of hybrid/online childbirth education models to enable versatility during times of crisis. Gaps in service provision, communication and resources for childbirth and parenting education need addressing.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Sex Reprod Healthc
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.srhc.2023.100904
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine
dc.subject.classification	3215 Reproductive medicine
dc.subject.classification	4204 Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Pandemics
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	Postpartum Period
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Prenatal Education
dc.subject.mesh	Parturition
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Postpartum Period
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Parturition
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Pandemics
dc.subject.mesh	Prenatal Education
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Pandemics
dc.subject.mesh	COVID-19
dc.subject.mesh	Postpartum Period
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Prenatal Education
dc.subject.mesh	Parturition
dc.title	Women's experiences of changes to childbirth and parenting education in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic: The birth in the time of COVID-19 (BITTOC) study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	38
utslib.location.activity	Netherlands
utslib.for	1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2024-03-07T06:01:15Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	38

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: As changes to Childbirth and Parenting Education (CBPE) classes during the COVID-19 pandemic remain unexplored in Australia, our objective was to understand how changes to CBPE in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted on women's birth and postnatal experiences. METHODS: Survey responses were received from 3172 women (1343 pregnant and 1829 postnatal) for the 'Birth In The Time Of Covid-19 (BITTOC)' survey (August 2020 to February 2021) in Australia. One of the survey questions asked women if they had experienced changes to CBPE class schedules or format during the pandemic, with a follow up open ended text box inviting women to comment on the impact of these changes. The majority of women experienced changes to CBPE, with only 9 % stating they experienced no changes to classes. A content analysis was undertaken on the 929 open text responses discussing the impact these changes had on women's experience of pregnancy, birth and postpartum. RESULTS: 929 women (29 %) made 1131 comments regarding changes to CBPE classes during the pandemic. The main finding 'I felt so unprepared', highlights how women perceived the cessation or alteration of classes impacted their birth preparation, with many reporting an increased sense of isolation. Some women reported feeling 'It was good enough' with adequate provision of online classes, and others feeling 'I was let down by the system' due to communication and technological barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the importance of ensuring continued provision of hybrid/online childbirth education models to enable versatility during times of crisis. Gaps in service provision, communication and resources for childbirth and parenting education need addressing.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/176284