Lessons from past epidemics and pandemics and a way forward for pregnant women, midwives and nurses during COVID-19 and beyond: A meta-synthesis.
Shefaly Shorey, Valerie Chan
PMID 32847770WHAT IT FOUND
Pregnant women and maternity midwives and nurses described fear, stigma, information gaps and access barriers during outbreaks.
They wanted more information, support and credible resources. This is experiences and needs, not tested interventions.
Key findings
01Pregnant women described anxiety, fear and constant concerns about their future, and some were afraid to attend hospital appointments.
02Midwives and nurses described fear of infection and public stigma or mistrust.
03Pregnant women and staff wanted more information, timely access to services, and practical support.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only English-language studies were searched, so relevant work in other languages may have been missed. Only eight studies were included, and most were from Western countries, so the findings may not represent all maternity settings. The studies covered different epidemics and regions, so experiences may not transfer to another outbreak or health system. The review focused on pregnant women and did not include new mothers, whose needs may differ. All shortlisted studies were included regardless of appraisal scores, so weaker studies were not removed.
Declared interests
The authors reported no funding and no competing interests.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as evidence that tele-counselling, brief mindfulness, anti-stigma campaigns or psychological support programmes improve outcomes. The review synthesises experiences and needs, not tested interventions.