Doula Support Challenges and Coping Strategies during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Maternal Health Inequities

Nguyen, Tien C.; Donovan, Erin; Wright, Michelle L.

doi:10.1080/10410236.2021.2012898

Cited by 11 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Studies that evaluated the impact of COVID-19 guidelines on doula services found that doulas clients experienced three primary pregnancy and childbirth barriers: (i) fear of exposure, (ii) limited access to their intended support systems, including doulas, and (iii) uncertainty about hospital restrictions and COVID guidelines on labor and delivery [ 25 , 26 , 31 ]. Doulas responded deftly, helping their clients face these obstacles.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the difficulties in providing remote services for clients during the pandemic, telemedicine gave doulas a way to connect with their clients and teach them coping mechanisms. These experiences of doulas during the pandemic may shape future care practices, especially for low-income and underserved communities [ 26 ]. However, doulas expressed significant concerns that their classification as "non-essential" employees continued even after COVID-19 restrictions were eased.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most doulas still could not attend births—limiting their ability to provide needed services like emotional and breastfeeding support to new mothers. Doulas had mixed emotions about virtual assistance effectiveness [ 26 , 37 ]. They were concerned about COVID's long-term effects on their profession and worried about maltreatment and obstetric violence as birthing people enter hospitals unaccompanied.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the peak of the pandemic, most people hiring doulas were wealthy and educated. Low-income and underserved birthing people could not afford this benefit and were limited to the services that doulas could provide [ 26 , 31 ]. This only increased the existing access inequalities that low-income and underserved birthing people face.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Doulas were able to provide families with birth information and virtually support their clients during labor. The exclusion of doulas also critically impacted hospital staff, who expressed dismay that they could not provide women in labor and postpartum with tailored support during this period; in this situation, the presence of doulas in the hospital would have been beneficial [ 26 , 38 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of doulas in providing breastfeeding support during the COVID-19 pandemic

et al. 2023

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Background Doulas have been instrumental in providing breastfeeding support to nursing mothers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they can significantly impact a mother's ability to initiate and maintain breastfeeding. However, the COVID-19 pandemic, subsequent lockdowns, and social isolation created challenges for nursing mothers to access doulas' services, usually provided in person. In this study, we examined the role of doulas in providing breastfeeding support during the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring adaptation to COVID-19 guidelines and the challenges doulas face in providing breastfeeding support during the pandemic. Methods A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Thirteen scientific databases and twenty peer-reviewed journals were searched for journal articles published in English between January 2020 and March 2022 using key search terms (e.g., Doula, Breastfeeding, COVID-19). Studies evaluating the role of doulas in providing breastfeeding support during COVID-19, and the impact of COVID-19 Guidelines on doula services, were included. Two reviewers independently performed the risk of bias assessment and data extraction. Summative content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results The majority of studies were conducted in developed nations. This systematic review includes eight articles, four qualitative, one survey, two mixed-methods studies, and one prospective research study. Seven of the eight studies were conducted in the United States, and the eighth was conducted in multiple countries. These studies have three main themes: (1) virtual breastfeeding support provided by doulas during the pandemic; (2) remote social support provided by doulas to breastfeeding mothers during the pandemic; and (3) barriers to doula service delivery due to COVID-19 restrictions, primarily the exclusion of doulas as essential workers. The eight studies showed that doulas found innovative ways to serve the needs of birthing and nursing mothers during the difficulties brought on by the pandemic. Conclusion Doulas provided breastfeeding support during the COVID-19 pandemic by utilizing innovative service delivery methods while navigating changes in COVID-19 guidance. However, system-level integration of doulas' work and the acknowledgment of doulas as essential healthcare providers are needed to enhance doula service delivery capacity, especially during a pandemic, to help improve maternal health outcomes.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The role of doulas in providing breastfeeding support during the COVID-19 pandemic

et al. 2023

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Advancing Equity in Maternal Health With Virtual Doula Care

Waymouth,

James,

Uscher-Pines

2024

JAMA Health Forum

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Associations Between Pornography Consumption, Sexual Flexibility, and Sexual Functioning Among Austrian Adults

Komlenac

Hochleitner

2022

Arch Sex Behav

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To date, only a few studies have examined the associations between pornography consumption and sexual functioning. The Acquisition, Activation, Application Model (3AM) indicates that the frequency of pornography consumption and the perceived realism of pornography may influence whether sexual scripts are acquired from viewed pornography. Having sexual scripts that are alternative to their preferred sexual behaviors may help people switch to alternative sexual behavior when sexual problems arise. The current study analyzed whether frequent pornography consumption was associated with greater sexual flexibility and greater sexual functioning. Additionally, the perceived realism of pornography consumption was tested as a moderator of those associations. At an Austrian medical university, an online cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among 644 medical students (54% women and 46% men; Mage = 24.1 years, SD = 3.8). The participants were asked about their pornography consumption, partnered sexual activity, sexual flexibility, perceived realism of pornography, and sexual functioning. Manifest path analyses revealed direct and indirect associations between frequent pornography consumption and greater sexual functioning through greater sexual flexibility in women but not in men. Perceived realism did not moderate those associations. In conclusion, our study was in line with previous studies that found no significant associations between men’s pornography consumption and sexual functioning in men. However, some women may expand their sexual scripts and learn new sexual behaviors from pornography consumption, which may help with their sexual functioning.

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Doula Support Challenges and Coping Strategies during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Maternal Health Inequities

Cited by 11 publications

References 32 publications

The role of doulas in providing breastfeeding support during the COVID-19 pandemic

The role of doulas in providing breastfeeding support during the COVID-19 pandemic

Advancing Equity in Maternal Health With Virtual Doula Care

Associations Between Pornography Consumption, Sexual Flexibility, and Sexual Functioning Among Austrian Adults

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