The experiences of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey: A qualitative study.
Berrak Mizrak Sahin, Esra Nur Kabakci
PMID 33023829WHAT IT FOUND
Pregnant women in Turkey said fear of infection and unclear information led them to skip or delay prenatal visits; phone or online guidance from doctors, midwives or nurses helped them feel safer.
Key findings
01Pregnant women described not taking the pandemic seriously until it reached Turkey, then feeling anxious and unable to get enough satisfying information.
02Some women postponed or missed prenatal controls because their doctors advised only mandatory visits, or because they were afraid of infection and could not contact medical staff.
03Women who could easily contact doctors, midwives or nurses and receive telephone or online support said they felt more comfortable.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included 15 women in Turkey, so the themes may not represent all pregnant women. Participants were reached by snowball sampling, so they may not reflect women without contacts who could take part. Interviews were by telephone, so visual cues such as facial expressions were not observed. Names had to be known to reach participants through snowball sampling, although they were not addressed by name during interviews. The study reported themes from interviews, not measured outcomes, so it does not show whether remote support, safe clinics or postponed visits changed anxiety, infection or pregnancy outcomes. It focused on women who spoke Turkish and had not been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Declared interests
The authors received no financial support for the research and declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that phone or online support reduced anxiety or made prenatal care safer. The study only described what pregnant women said they experienced.