Association of continuity of carer and women's experiences of maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Recent research highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternity services, although none to date have analysed the association between continuity of carer and how women felt about the changes to pregnancy care and birth plans. AIM: To describe pregnant women's self-reported changes to their planned pregnancy care and associations between continuity of carer and how women feel about changes to their planned care. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey of pregnant women aged over 18 years in their final trimester of pregnancy in Australia. FINDINGS: 1668 women completed the survey. Most women reported at least one change to pregnancy care and birthing plans. Women receiving full continuity of carer were more likely to rate the changes to care as neutral/positive (p<.001) when compared with women who received partial or no continuity. DISCUSSION: Pregnant women experienced many changes to their planned pregnancy and birth care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women who received full continuity of carer experienced fewer changes to care and were more likely to feel neutral/positive about the changes than women who did not receive full continuity of carer.

Association of continuity of carer and women’s experiences of maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey

Background Recent research highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternity services, although none to date have asked women how they feel about the changes to care or analysed the association between continuity of carer and women’s experiences. Aim The aim of our research was to discover pregnant women’s self-reported changes to their planned care and associations between continuity of carer and how women felt about changes to their planned care. Methods A cross-sectional online survey of pregnant women aged over 18 years in their final trimester of pregnancy in Australia was undertaken. Results 1668 women completed the survey. Most women reported at least one change to pregnancy care and birthing plans. Women receiving full continuity of carer were more likely to rate the changes to care as positive (p<0.001) when compared with women who received partial or no continuity. Conclusions Pregnant women experienced many changes to their planned pregnancy and birth care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women who received full continuity of carer experienced fewer changes to care and were more likely to feel positive about the changes than women who did not receive full continuity of carer. Our study demonstrates that women are better together through continuity of carer models.

What are the long-term holistic health consequences of COVID-19 among survivors? An umbrella systematic review.

Many people who have survived COVID-19 have experienced negative persistent impacts on health. Impacts on health have included persistent respiratory symptoms, decreased quality of life, fatigue, impaired functional capacity, memory deficits, psychological impacts, and difficulties in returning to paid employment. Evidence is yet to be pooled to inform future directions in research and practice, to determine the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual impacts of the illness which extend beyond the acute phase of COVID-19 survivors. This umbrella review (review of systematic reviews) critically synthesized physical (including abnormal laboratory parameters), psychological, social, and spiritual impacts which extended beyond the acute phase of COVID-19 survivors. The search strategy was based on the sample, phenomena of interest, design, evaluation, research model and all publications were double screened independently by four review authors for the eligibility criteria. Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted in parallel independently. Eighteen systematic reviews were included, which represented a total of 493 publications. Sample sizes ranged from n = 15 to n = 44 799 with a total of n = 295 455 participants. There was incomplete reporting of several significant data points including the description of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variant, COVID-19 treatments, and key clinical and demographic data. A number of physical, psychological, and social impacts were identified for individuals grappling with post-COVID condition. The long term sequalae of acute COVID-19 and size of the problem is only beginning to emerge. Further investigation is needed to ensure that those affected by post-COVID condition have their informational, spiritual, psychological, social, and physical needs met in the future.

Infant and young child feeding during natural disasters: A systematic integrative literature review.

BACKGROUND: As climate change worsens, the frequency and intensity of natural disasters continues to increase. These extreme weather events particularly affect the physical and mental health of vulnerable groups such as mothers and infants. From low-income to high income countries, poorly organised disaster response can negatively impact infant and young child feeding practices. AIM: To examine challenges and supportive strategies for infant and young child feeding during natural disasters to inform further research and guide disaster recommendations and practice. METHODS: A comprehensive search strategy explored the electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL and Cochrane Library. Screening, data extraction and analysis were conducted using Covidence. Quality assessment was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Studies were analysed using thematic analysis. FINDINGS: This review included 13 studies (4 mixed methods, 1 critical ethnography, 2 quasi-experimental studies, 4 descriptive studies, 1 qualitative study, 1 evidence gap map analysis). Breastfeeding facilitators during natural disaster contexts are privacy for breastfeeding, community and family support, adaptation of professional breastfeeding support to the local context and pre-existing breastfeeding practice. Breastfeeding challenges during natural disasters include decreased breastfeeding self-efficacy, lack of knowledge and resources and over-reliance on formula baby milks. Formula baby milk feeding challenges during natural disasters are the lack of access to resources required for hygienic formula baby milk preparation as well as the lack of availability of formula baby milk in some contexts. CONCLUSION: This systematic integrative review demonstrates that interventions which facilitate optimal infant and young child feeding in natural disaster contexts must be culturally and socially appropriate; increasing women's knowledge of optimal breastfeeding and safe formula baby milk feeding practices as well as breastfeeding self-efficacy.