Quality of care at childbirth: Findings of IMAgiNE EURO in Italy during the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic

Lazzerini, Marzia; Covi, Benedetta; Mariani, Ilaria; Giusti, Angela; Valente, Emanuelle Pessa

Quality of care at childbirth: Findings of IMAgiNE EURO in Italy during the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic

Files

IJGO-157-405.pdf (2.34 MB)

Authors

Lazzerini, Marzia

Covi, Benedetta

Mariani, Ilaria

Giusti, Angela

Valente, Emanuelle Pessa

Issue Date

2022-02-20

Type

Article

Language

en_US

Keywords

Childbirth , COVID‐19 , European Region , Hospital , Maternal , Newborn , Quality of Care , Questionnaires , Survey

Abstract

Objective: Investigate the quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC) during childbirth in the first year of COVID‐19 pandemic in Italy, from the mothers' perspective, as key service users. Methods: Women who gave birth in an Italian facility from March 1, 2020 to February 29, 2021 answered an online questionnaire including 40 WHO Standard‐based Quality Measures. Descriptive and multivariate quantile regression analyses were performed. Results: In total, 4824 women were included, reporting heterogeneity of practices across regions: among 3981 women who underwent labour 78.4% (63.0%–92.0%) were not allowed a companion of choice, 44.6% (28.9%–53.3%) had difficulties in attending routine antenatal visits, 36.3% (24.9%–61.1%) reported inadequate breastfeeding support, 39.2% (23.3%–62.2%) felt not involved in medical choices, 33.0% (23.9%–49.3%) experienced unclear communication from staff, 24.8% (15.9%–39.4%) were not always treated with dignity and 12.7% (10.1%–29.3%) reported abuses. Findings in the group of women who did not experience labour were substantially similar. Multivariate analyses confirmed a significant lower QMNC index for regions in southern Italy compared to North and Central regions. Conclusion: Mothers reported substantial inequities in the QMNC across Italian regions. Future studies should monitor QMNC over time. Meanwhile, actions to ensure high QMNC for all mothers and newborns across Italy are urgently required.

Citation

Lazzerini, M., Covi, B., Mariani, I., Giusti, A., Pessa Valente, E., & IMAgiNE EURO Study Group (2022). Quality of care at childbirth: Findings of IMAgiNE EURO in Italy during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 157(2), 405–417. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.14119

Publisher

International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics: The Official Organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics