Mohammadi S, Shojaei K, Maraghi E, Motaghi Z. Quality of perinatal care for women with high-risk pregnancies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran.
J Int Med Res 2022;
50:3000605221106723. [PMID:
35850546 PMCID:
PMC9309783 DOI:
10.1177/03000605221106723]
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Abstract
Background
COVID-19 has had a catastrophic effect on the healthcare system. Healthcare
quality assessment measures the difference between expected and actual
performances to identify gaps in the healthcare system. This study aimed to
evaluate the quality of perinatal care for women with high-risk pregnancies
(HPR) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Materials and Methods
This cross-sectional study enrolled 450 women with HPR from health centers in
Ahvaz, Iran, from December 2020 to May 2021, using a multi-stage sampling
method. Quality of care was assessed using an observational checklist
adapted from Ministry of Health guidelines. Data were analyzed using
descriptive and statistical methods.
Results
The quality of the assessed aspect in comprehensive health centers and in
peripartum, perinatal, and postpartum wards was moderate. The overall score
for peripartum care was significantly positively correlated with the length
of the retraining period, and the quality of perinatal care was
significantly related to the proportion of elective cesarean sections and
preterm delivery.
Conclusion
The development of care practices in health centers in Iran should focus on
education and counseling. Practices in peripartum wards should emphasize the
use of partographs, physical/mental support, and privacy for mothers, while
perinatal wards should focus on timely counseling.
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