Insights into women’s experiences of giving birth during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic in Jordan, a cross-sectional survey

Background: Since 2019, the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic and its consequences from restrictions to risks have impacted our lives in all aspects. Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the changes that were implemented as a result of the shift in healthcare priorities and the medical and soci...

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Main Authors: Nadia Muhaidat, Batool AlQuabeh, Waed AbdulGhani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2023-09-01
Series:Women's Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231199038
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author Nadia Muhaidat
Batool AlQuabeh
Waed AbdulGhani
author_facet Nadia Muhaidat
Batool AlQuabeh
Waed AbdulGhani
author_sort Nadia Muhaidat
collection DOAJ
description Background: Since 2019, the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic and its consequences from restrictions to risks have impacted our lives in all aspects. Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the changes that were implemented as a result of the shift in healthcare priorities and the medical and social implications of the lockdown. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the experience of giving birth during the pandemic, how this is affected by acquiring coronavirus disease-19 infection, and its effect on postnatal mood. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted which involved 490 women who gave birth during the pandemic across the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Methods: An electronic questionnaire was distributed among women experiencing childbirth during this period in Jordan by advertising it on social media platforms targeting pregnant women and mothers. The sample size was statistically determined to be representative of the population. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows v.27. Results: The study demonstrated that getting infected with the virus throughout the pregnancy did not affect the childbirth experience with respect to the parameters measured, but other factors during the pandemic such as the type of hospital and mode of delivery did. Positive interaction with staff in the delivery suite was a major determinant of a positive birth experience. Women associated low mood post-delivery with giving birth in pandemic circumstances, and it affected first-time mothers more than multiparous women. Conclusion: Although the acquisition of coronavirus disease-19 infection did not have a significant impact on women’s childbirth experience, several pandemic-related factors did. Given the importance of a woman’s perception and evaluation of events surrounding her birth experience in determining her postnatal physical and psychological well-being, having to give birth during the pandemic circumstances, especially for first-time mothers, can have potentially detrimental consequences that may affect her health and reproductive choices in the future. The results of this study offer a better understanding of the effect of pandemic and lockdown circumstances on the perceived experience of mothers during childbirth and postnatally and factors that should be taken into consideration when planning healthcare provision to this population in future similar conditions.
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spelling doaj.art-cedcb1846a9e4a1888c4e4561efd988f2023-09-21T17:04:19ZengSAGE PublishingWomen's Health1745-50652023-09-011910.1177/17455057231199038Insights into women’s experiences of giving birth during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic in Jordan, a cross-sectional surveyNadia Muhaidat0Batool AlQuabeh1Waed AbdulGhani2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, JordanSchool of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, JordanSchool of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, JordanBackground: Since 2019, the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic and its consequences from restrictions to risks have impacted our lives in all aspects. Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the changes that were implemented as a result of the shift in healthcare priorities and the medical and social implications of the lockdown. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the experience of giving birth during the pandemic, how this is affected by acquiring coronavirus disease-19 infection, and its effect on postnatal mood. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted which involved 490 women who gave birth during the pandemic across the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Methods: An electronic questionnaire was distributed among women experiencing childbirth during this period in Jordan by advertising it on social media platforms targeting pregnant women and mothers. The sample size was statistically determined to be representative of the population. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows v.27. Results: The study demonstrated that getting infected with the virus throughout the pregnancy did not affect the childbirth experience with respect to the parameters measured, but other factors during the pandemic such as the type of hospital and mode of delivery did. Positive interaction with staff in the delivery suite was a major determinant of a positive birth experience. Women associated low mood post-delivery with giving birth in pandemic circumstances, and it affected first-time mothers more than multiparous women. Conclusion: Although the acquisition of coronavirus disease-19 infection did not have a significant impact on women’s childbirth experience, several pandemic-related factors did. Given the importance of a woman’s perception and evaluation of events surrounding her birth experience in determining her postnatal physical and psychological well-being, having to give birth during the pandemic circumstances, especially for first-time mothers, can have potentially detrimental consequences that may affect her health and reproductive choices in the future. The results of this study offer a better understanding of the effect of pandemic and lockdown circumstances on the perceived experience of mothers during childbirth and postnatally and factors that should be taken into consideration when planning healthcare provision to this population in future similar conditions.https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231199038
spellingShingle Nadia Muhaidat
Batool AlQuabeh
Waed AbdulGhani
Insights into women’s experiences of giving birth during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic in Jordan, a cross-sectional survey
Women's Health
title Insights into women’s experiences of giving birth during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic in Jordan, a cross-sectional survey
title_full Insights into women’s experiences of giving birth during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic in Jordan, a cross-sectional survey
title_fullStr Insights into women’s experiences of giving birth during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic in Jordan, a cross-sectional survey
title_full_unstemmed Insights into women’s experiences of giving birth during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic in Jordan, a cross-sectional survey
title_short Insights into women’s experiences of giving birth during the coronavirus disease-19 pandemic in Jordan, a cross-sectional survey
title_sort insights into women s experiences of giving birth during the coronavirus disease 19 pandemic in jordan a cross sectional survey
url https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231199038
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