Experiences of Birth during COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy and Spain: A Thematic Analysis

Sofia Colaceci, Gloria Anderson, Veronica Ricciuto, Denise Montinaro, Giorgia Alazraki and Desirée Mena-Tudela
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Sofia Colaceci: Department Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Saint Camillus International University (UniCamillus), Via di Sant’Alessandro 8, 00131 Rome, Italy
Gloria Anderson: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
Veronica Ricciuto: Department Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Saint Camillus International University (UniCamillus), Via di Sant’Alessandro 8, 00131 Rome, Italy
Denise Montinaro: Associazione Rinascere al Naturale, Via Umberto I, n. 42, 73021 Calimera, Italy
Giorgia Alazraki: Independent Researcher, 00133 Rome, Italy
Desirée Mena-Tudela: Department of Nursing, Universitat Jaume I, Avenida de Vicent Sos Baynat, s/n, 12071 Castellón de la Plana, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: Becoming parents during the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been a challenge. The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of the pandemic on new and expectant parents in both Italy and Spain. A descriptive qualitative study was carried out by collecting social media posts written by parents between March 2020 and April 2021. The posts were inserted in a data collection form and assessed separately by two authors. The coding was performed manually using the long table analysis method and a thematic analysis was performed. Three main themes were identified: (1) care; (2) overcoming difficulties and problem-solving strategies; and (3) legislation and anti-COVID-19 measures. The main issues for parents were the limited access of partners to antenatal care services and mother–newborn separation. Due to restrictive measures, many parents adopted different coping skills. Some hospitals were able to maintain high standards of care; however, a lot of discretion in legislation and the application of anti-COVID-19 measures in healthcare services was perceived by parents. The COVID-19 pandemic has heavily affected the way parents experienced pregnancy and birth. Becoming parents during the pandemic has exacerbated some fears that usually characterize this event, but it has also triggered new ones, especially in the first months.

Keywords: childbirth; women; midwifery; obstetric violence; COVID-19; qualitative research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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