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Experiences of birthing people during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analysis of comments from the 2020 Wisconsin Pregnancy
Trina C Salm Ward1, Tuleen Abu Zahra2, Chuthamas Payjapoh2
1Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted birthing people in Wisconsin, affecting healthcare, social support, and finances. Enhanced support systems and policies are needed for future public health emergencies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Maternal Health
- Sociology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the US population, particularly birthing people with unique clinical needs.
- The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) monitors birthing people's experiences.
- PRAMS comment data offers insights into pandemic-related experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe pandemic-related experiences of birthing people in Wisconsin using PRAMS data.
- To inform future emergency preparedness planning for maternal health.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 2020 Wisconsin PRAMS data for births in March or later.
- Content analysis of pandemic-related comments.
- Quantitative examination of demographic characteristics and pandemic experiences.
Main Results:
- 1406 respondents reported pandemic impacts on healthcare visits and employment.
- 100 respondents provided comments revealing four themes: altered healthcare, reduced social support, increased anxiety/stress, and financial/employment burdens.
- Most comments highlighted negative impacts, though some positive aspects were noted.
Conclusions:
- Opportunities exist to improve support for birthing people during public health emergencies.
- Recommendations include prioritizing social support, implementing policy protections (insurance, paid leave), and enhancing mental health screening and support.
Background:
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant toll on the US population, with birthing people having special clinical needs. The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a population-based surveillance system for monitoring birthing people's experiences. Comment data from the PRAMS survey can provide further insight into birthing people's experiences. This study aims to use PRAMS data to describe pandemic-related experiences in a representative sample of birthing people in Wisconsin to help inform future emergency preparedness planning.
Methods:
This study analyzed 2020 Wisconsin PRAMS data for births in March or later. Content analysis of pandemic-related comment data was conducted, and quantitative data on demographic characteristics and pandemic-related experiences were examined.
Results:
Findings from 1406 respondents indicated that many birthing people were affected by the pandemic, including changes in healthcare visits and employment. One hundred respondents commented on pandemic-related experiences; four interrelated themes emerged from content analysis: changed nature and quality of healthcare, limited social support, increased anxiety, stress, or fear, and employment or financial burden. Most comments discussed negative impacts; some expressed positive aspects.
Discussion:
Findings suggest opportunities for improving support for birthing people during public health emergencies, for example, through developing healthcare policies and public health guidelines that prioritize the protective mechanisms of social support for birthing people, identifying additional and immediately accessible policy protections to support birthing and postpartum people (e.g., insurance and paid leave) during public health emergencies, and implementing additional screening and support to help address increased mental health needs during public health emergencies.
