Receiving maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of women's partners and support persons

Abstract

Background: In Australia, the provision of maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly altered to limit transmission of the virus. Many hospitals limited face-to-face appointments to only the pregnant woman and restricted the number of support people present during labour, birth, and postnatal visits to one person. How these restrictions were experienced by partners and support persons of childbearing women are unknown. Aim: To explore the experiences of partners and support persons of women receiving maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A two-phased qualitative study including an online survey and interviews. Analysis was undertaken using content analysis...