Did everyone change their childbirth plans due to the COVID‐19 pandemic? A web‐based cross‐sectional survey of Polish pregnant women

Abstract

Background and Aim: With the worldwide outbreak of coronavirus, a significant impact has been observed on the functioning of healthcare systems and the process of childbirth.Women probably did not even have a choice to adjust their plans accordingly to the current situation. The aim of the study was to examine how the outbreak of the SARS CoV-2 pandemic state affected the decisions of pregnant women about their childbirth plan.Design: This cross-sectional study was performed using a web-based survey published on social media in Poland. Methods:The cross-sectional study was performed using web-based questionnaires.The study group included Polish women who changed their childbirth plans, compared to a group of women not sure about delivery plan change and those whose plans had not changed. The data were collected from 4 March 2020 to 2 May 2020, when the first rising count of new infections was observed in Poland and worldwide.Statistical analysis was performed using STATISTICA Software, Inc., 13.3 (2020).Results: Of 969 women who completed the questionnaire and were enrolled into the study, 57.2% had not changed their childbirth plans (group I), 28.4% had changed their plans (group II), and 14.4% of respondents answered "not sure" to this question (group III). The majority of women changed their birth plans during the pandemic because of the potential absence of their partner during labour (56% of women who had changed their plans and 48% of those whose answer was "I am not sure", p < .001). Another reason was the fear of separation from the child after delivery (33% of women who had changed their plans and 30% of those whose answer was "I am not sure", p < .001). Conclusion:Restrictions due to the COVID-19 outbreak have influenced the childbirth plans of pregnant women. The changes were independent of women's vision of birth before the pandemic. Impact:The restriction on births with accompanying person and the risk of separation from their infant after childbirth significantly influenced the decision-making process.As a result, some women were more likely to opt for a home birth with or even without medical assistance.

Assessment of the Perinatal Care Effectiveness During the COVID-19 Pandemic at the Regional Level

“…According to several studies, about 50.0% of women who planned pregnancy before the pandemic changed their reproductive plans during the pandemic [30,31]. Of 969 women who were included in a study in Poland [32], 57.2% did not change their birth plans, 28.4% changed their plans, and 14.4% of respondents answered «not sure» to this question. question.…”