TY - JOUR
T1 - Voices from the frontline: findings from a thematic analysis of a rapid online global survey of maternal and newborn health professionals facing the COVID-19 pandemic
AU - Semaan, Aline
AU - Audet, Constance
AU - Huysmans, Elise
AU - Afolabi, Bosede
AU - Assarag, Bouchra
AU - Banke-Thomas, Aduragbemi
AU - Blencowe, Hannah
AU - Caluwaerts, Séverine
AU - Campbell, Oona Maeve Renee
AU - Cavallaro, Francesca L
AU - Chavane, Leonardo
AU - Day, Louise Tina
AU - Delamou, Alexandre
AU - Delvaux, Therese
AU - Graham, Wendy Jane
AU - Gon, Giorgia
AU - Kascak, Peter
AU - Matsui, Mitsuaki
AU - Moxon, Sarah
AU - Nakimuli, Annettee
AU - Pembe, Andrea
AU - Radovich, Emma
AU - van den Akker, Thomas
AU - Benova, Lenka
N1 - FTX; DOAJ; (CC BY-NC 4.0); © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially impacted maternity care provision worldwide. Studies based on modelling estimated large indirect effects of the pandemic on services and health outcomes. The objective of this study was to prospectively document experiences of frontline maternal and newborn healthcare providers.METHODS: We conducted a global, cross-sectional study of maternal and newborn health professionals via an online survey disseminated through professional networks and social media in 12 languages. Information was collected between 24 March and 10 April 2020 on respondents' background, preparedness for and response to COVID-19 and their experience during the pandemic. An optional module sought information on adaptations to 17 care processes. Descriptive statistics and qualitative thematic analysis were used to analyse responses, disaggregating by low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs).RESULTS: We analysed responses from 714 maternal and newborn health professionals. Only one-third received training on COVID-19 from their health facility and nearly all searched for information themselves. Half of respondents in LMICs received updated guidelines for care provision compared with 82% in HICs. Overall, 47% of participants in LMICs and 69% in HICs felt mostly or completely knowledgeable in how to care for COVID-19 maternity patients. Facility-level responses to COVID-19 (signage, screening, testing and isolation rooms) were more common in HICs than LMICs. Globally, 90% of respondents reported somewhat or substantially higher levels of stress. There was a widespread perception of reduced use of routine maternity care services, and of modification in care processes, some of which were not evidence-based practices.CONCLUSIONS: Substantial knowledge gaps exist in guidance on management of maternity cases with or without COVID-19. Formal information-sharing channels for providers must be established and mental health support provided. Surveys of maternity care providers can help track the situation, capture innovations and support rapid development of effective responses.
AB - INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially impacted maternity care provision worldwide. Studies based on modelling estimated large indirect effects of the pandemic on services and health outcomes. The objective of this study was to prospectively document experiences of frontline maternal and newborn healthcare providers.METHODS: We conducted a global, cross-sectional study of maternal and newborn health professionals via an online survey disseminated through professional networks and social media in 12 languages. Information was collected between 24 March and 10 April 2020 on respondents' background, preparedness for and response to COVID-19 and their experience during the pandemic. An optional module sought information on adaptations to 17 care processes. Descriptive statistics and qualitative thematic analysis were used to analyse responses, disaggregating by low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries (HICs).RESULTS: We analysed responses from 714 maternal and newborn health professionals. Only one-third received training on COVID-19 from their health facility and nearly all searched for information themselves. Half of respondents in LMICs received updated guidelines for care provision compared with 82% in HICs. Overall, 47% of participants in LMICs and 69% in HICs felt mostly or completely knowledgeable in how to care for COVID-19 maternity patients. Facility-level responses to COVID-19 (signage, screening, testing and isolation rooms) were more common in HICs than LMICs. Globally, 90% of respondents reported somewhat or substantially higher levels of stress. There was a widespread perception of reduced use of routine maternity care services, and of modification in care processes, some of which were not evidence-based practices.CONCLUSIONS: Substantial knowledge gaps exist in guidance on management of maternity cases with or without COVID-19. Formal information-sharing channels for providers must be established and mental health support provided. Surveys of maternity care providers can help track the situation, capture innovations and support rapid development of effective responses.
KW - Betacoronavirus
KW - Child Health Services/statistics & numerical data
KW - Coronavirus Infections
KW - Cross-Sectional Studies
KW - Female
KW - Health Personnel/statistics & numerical data
KW - Humans
KW - Infant, Newborn
KW - Maternal Health Services/statistics & numerical data
KW - Occupational Stress
KW - Pandemics
KW - Pneumonia, Viral
KW - Poverty
KW - Surveys and Questionnaires
U2 - 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-002967
DO - 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-002967
M3 - A1: Web of Science-article
C2 - 32586891
VL - 5
JO - BMJ Global Health
JF - BMJ Global Health
SN - 2059-7908
IS - 6
M1 - e002967
ER -