Postpartum Experiences of Women During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Year 2024, Volume: 10 Issue: 2, 75 - 89, 31.07.2024

Tülay Yılmaz , Hüsniye Dinç Kaya , Sevil Günaydın , Pooneh Aghıl Dızaj

Abstract

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global public health problem. Since postpartum mothers and their infants are considered a vulnerable population, their potential to be affected by COVID-19 is high. The present study was performed to reveal the postpartum experiences of women during the pandemic.
Design: A qualitative methodology was employed in the study.
Setting: Participants were included in the study by purposive sampling until data saturation was achieved. Women over 18 years of age who gave birth in the last six months during the COVID-19 process were included in the study. The data were obtained from semi-structured in-depth individual interviews conducted between 28.1.2021 and 20.08.2021. The content analysis approach was used to analyze the data. The data analysis was carried out using the MAXQDA Analytics Pro qualitative data analysis software.
Findings: Interviews were completed with 11 women. In the study, six main themes related to the experiences of women in the postpartum period during the COVID-19 pandemic were determined: isolation, emotional changes in the COVID-19 process, economic situation, receiving postpartum care, social support, and anxiety management.
Key conclusions: In pandemic healthcare professionals play important roles in the care of women and infants in the postpartum period. The results obtained from this qualitative study will contribute to ensuring the continuity of postpartum care.
Implications for practice: Health professionals should ensure the continuity of postpartum care during epidemic periods. Policies should be developed for the mother and baby in the postpartum period to receive optimum service.

Keywords

COVID-19, postpartum, infant, newborn, qualitative research, obstetrics

Ethical Statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Supporting Institution

No financial support was received for this research.

Thanks

We would like to thank all the participants for sharing their postpartum experiences during the pandemic and allocating their time.

Covid-19 Pandemi Sürecinde Kadınların Postpartum Döneme Ait Deneyimleri: Kalitatif Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: Koronavirüs hastalığı 2019 (COVID-19) küresel bir halk sağlığı sorunudur. Doğum sonrası anneler ve bebekleri savunmasız bir nüfus olarak kabul edildiğinden, onların COVID-19'dan etkilenme potansiyelleri yüksektir. Bu çalışma kadınların pandemi sürecinde doğum sonrası deneyimlerini ortaya çıkarmak amacıyla yapılmıştır.
Tasarım: Araştırmada nitel bir yöntem kullanılmıştır.
Yöntem: Katılımcılar, veri doygunluğu sağlanana kadar amaçlı örnekleme yoluyla çalışmaya dahil edildi. Çalışmaya COVID-19 sürecinde son altı ay içinde doğum yapan 18 yaş üstü kadınlar dahil edildi. Veriler 28.1.2021 ile 20.08.2021 tarihleri arasında gerçekleştirilen yarı yapılandırılmış derinlemesine bireysel görüşmelerden elde edilmiştir. Verilerin analizinde içerik analizi yaklaşımı kullanılmıştır. Veri analizi MAXQDA Analytics Pro nitel veri analizi yazılımı kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir.
Bulgular: Görüşmeler 11 kadınla tamamlandı. Araştırmada kadınların COVID-19 salgını sırasında doğum sonrası dönemdeki deneyimlerine ilişkin altı ana tema belirlendi: izolasyon, COVID-19 sürecindeki duygusal değişiklikler, ekonomik durum, doğum sonrası bakım alma, sosyal destek ve kaygı yönetimi.
Temel sonuçlar: Pandemi sürecinde sağlık profesyonelleri, doğum sonrası dönemde kadın ve bebeklerin bakımında önemli roller oynamaktadır. Bu nitel çalışmadan elde edilecek sonuçlar doğum sonrası bakımın sürekliliğinin sağlanmasına katkı sağlayacaktır.
Uygulamaya yönelik çıkarımlar: Sağlık profesyonelleri, salgın dönemlerinde doğum sonrası bakımın sürekliliğini sağlamalıdır. Doğum sonrası dönemde anne ve bebeğin optimum hizmet alabilmesi için politikalar geliştirilmelidir.

Keywords

COVID-19, doğum sonrası, bebek, yenidoğan, niteliksel araştırma, kadın doğum

Ethical Statement

Yazarlar, aralarında herhangi bir çıkar çatışması olmadığını beyan ederler.

Supporting Institution

Bu araştırma için finansal destek alınmamıştır.

Thanks

Pandemi sürecinde doğum sonrası deneyimlerini paylaşan ve zaman ayıran tüm katılımcılarımıza teşekkür ederiz.

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