Experiences of women in prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care during the COVID-19 pandemic in selected cities in Brazil: The resignification of the experience of pregnancy and giving birth.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted public and private health systems around the world, impairing good practices in women's health care. However, little is known about the experiences, knowledge, and feelings of Brazilian women in this period. The objective was to analyze the experiences of women, seen at maternity hospitals accredited by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS, acronym in Portuguese), regarding health care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum periods, their interpersonal relationships, and perceptions and feelings about the pandemic. This was a qualitative, exploratory research, carried out in three Brazilian municipalities with women hospitalized in 2020, during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum period, with COVID-19 or not. For data collection, semi-structured individual interviews (in person, by telephone, or by digital platform) were conducted, recorded and transcribed. The content analysis of thematic modalities was displayed as per the following axes: i) Knowledge about the disease; ii) Search for health care in prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum periods; iii) Experience of suffering from COVID-19; iv) Income and work; and v) Family dynamics and social support network. A total of 46 women were interviewed in São Luís-MA, Pelotas-RS, and Niterói-RJ. Use of media was important to convey information and fight fake news. The pandemic negatively impacted access to health care in the prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum periods, contributing to worsening of the population's social and economic vulnerabilities. Women experienced diverse manifestations of the disease, and psychic disorders were very frequent. Social isolation during the pandemic disrupted the support network of these women, who found social support strategies in communication technologies. Women-centered care-including qualified listening and mental health support-can reduce the severity of COVID-19 cases in pregnant, parturient, and postpartum women. Sustainable employment and income maintenance policies are essential to mitigate social vulnerabilities and reduce risks for these women.

From prenatal to postpartum care: changes in obstetric health services during the covid-19 pandemic / Del prenatal ao posparto: cambios en los serviços de saúde obstétricos durante la pandemia de la covid-19 / Do pré-natal ao puerpério: mudanças nos serviços de saúde obstétricos durante a pandemia da covid-19

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze changes in maternal health care during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to reports by health professionals. Method: qualitative research, conducted with managers, physicians, nurses, residents and nursing technicians working in a prenatal outpatient clinic, obstetric emergency department, delivery center and obstetric inpatient ward of a high complexity federal public hospital in the Northeast of Brazil. Data were collected from December 2020 to August 2021. The sample, chosen intentionally, sought the diversity of characteristics and situations, was closed by the criterion of saturation of meaning. A structured questionnaire and a semi-structured interview script were used for data collection. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. Content analysis was used in the thematic modality. Results: 28 professionals were interviewed. Changes in the dynamics of obstetric care were identified and categorized as: prenatal care; and childbirth/postpartum. In prenatal care, there was a decrease in elective consultations; increased time between consultations; delayed care due to paramentation; implementation of new hygiene protocols; limitation of the number of companions; creation of new environments such as the Covid-19 isolation room for symptomatic pregnant women; teleservice and work overload due to the increased demand coming from Primary Health Care. In childbirth/postparum, the reports indicated a reduction in the number of beds; testing and isolation of symptomatic patients; limitating walking, restriction of companions and mandatory use of mask by pregnant woman. Conclusion: the restructuring of services and the creation of new spaces to care for patients with Covid-19 led to a reduction in the availability of vacancies for prenatal and postpartum consultations. The changes were accompanied by new service rules, with setbacks regarding the guarantee of rights.

RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar los cambios en la atención a la salud materna durante la pandemia de la Covid-19, según relatos de profesionales de la salud. Método: investigación cualitativa, realizada con gerentes, médicos, enfermeros, residentes y técnicos de enfermería que actúan en el ambulatorio de prenatal, emergencia obstétrica, centro de parto y hospitalización obstétrica de un hospital público federal de alta complejidad en el Nordeste de Brasil. Los dados se recopilaron desde diciembre de 2020 hasta agosto dw 2021. La muestra, elegida intencionalmente, buscó la diversidad de características y situaciones, se cerró con el criterio de saturación de significados. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó un cuestionario estructurado y un guión de entrevista semiestructurada. Las entrevistas fueron grabadas y transcritas. En la modalidad temática se utilizó el análisis de contenido. Resultados: 28 profesionales fueron entrevistados. Se identificaron cambios en la dinámica de la atención obstétrica categorizados en: atención prenatal; y parto/posparto. En prenatal, hubo disminución de las consultas electivas; mayor tiempo entre citas; el atuendo retrasó el servicio; implementación de nuevos protocolos de higiene; limitar el número de acompañantes; creación de nuevos entornos como la sala Covid-19 para embarazadas sintomáticas; servicio de call center y sobrecarga de trabajo por aumento de demanda desde Atención Primaria de Salud. En parto/posparto, los informes señalaron reducción en el número de camas; pruebas y aislamiento de pacientes sintomáticos; limitación de la deambulación, restricción de acompañantes y uso obligatorio de mascarilla por parte de la parturienta. Conclusión: la reestructuración de los servicios y la creación de nuevos espacios para la atención de pacientes con Covid-19 llevó a una reducción en el número de vacantes para consultas de prenatal y posparto. Los cambios fueron acompañados de nuevas reglas de servicio, con retrocesos en cuanto a la garantía de los derechos previamente conquistados.

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar mudanças na assistência à saúde materna durante a pandemia da Covid-19, segundo relatos dos profissionais de saúde. Método: pesquisa qualitativa, realizada com gestores, médicos, enfermeiros, residentes e técnicos de enfermagem atuantes nos setores de ambulatório de pré-natal, emergência obstétrica, hospitalização obstétrica e centro de parto de um hospital público federal de alta complexidade no Nordeste do Brasil. Os dados foram coletados de no período de dezembro de 2020 a agosto de 2021. A amostra, escolhida intencionalmente, buscou a diversidade de características e situações, foi encerrada pelo critério da saturação de sentidos. Questionário estruturado e roteiro semiestruturado de entrevista foram utilizados para coleta dos dados. As entrevistas foram gravadas e transcritas. Empregou-se a análise de conteúdo, na modalidade temática. Resultados: entrevistaram-se 28 profissionais. Foram identificadas mudanças na dinâmica da assistência obstétrica categorizadas em: pré-natal; e parto/puerpério. No pré-natal, houve diminuição das consultas eletivas; aumento do tempo entre consultas; a paramentação atrasava o atendimento; implantação de novos protocolos de higienização; limitação do número de acompanhantes; criação de novos ambientes como a sala Covid-19 para gestantes sintomáticas; teleatendimento e sobrecarga de trabalho pelo aumento da demanda vinda da Atenção Primária à Saúde. No parto/puerpério, os relatos apontaram redução do número de leitos; testagem e isolamento das pacientes sintomáticas; limitação da deambulação, restrição de acompanhantes e obrigatoriedade do uso de máscara pela parturiente. Conclusão: a reestruturação dos serviços e a criação de novos espaços para atendimento de pacientes com Covid-19 ocasionaram redução na oferta de vagas para consultas de pré-natal e pós-parto. As mudanças foram acompanhadas por novas regras de atendimento, com retrocessos quanto à garantia de direitos previamente conquistados.