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. 2025 Jan-Dec:21:17455057251331696.
doi: 10.1177/17455057251331696. Epub 2025 Apr 16.

Experiences of Canadian perinatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analysis of open-ended survey responses

Sigourney Shaw-Churchill  1 , Karen P Phillips  1
Affiliations

Experiences of Canadian perinatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic: Analysis of open-ended survey responses

Sigourney Shaw-Churchill et al. Womens Health (Lond). 2025 Jan-Dec.

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant socioeconomic and healthcare disruptions in Canada. COVID-19 healthcare policies and local infection rates varied considerably across Canada's geographically diverse, multijurisdictional healthcare system. Emergence of highly transmissible COVID-19 variants and widespread COVID-19 vaccination mandates in Fall 2021 further impacted life in Canada. The experiences of pregnant people, in particular, were challenged by COVID-19 outbreaks, Canadian hospital policies, and local public health restrictions.

Objective: This study explored experiences of Canadian perinatal care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: Online, cross-sectional survey with qualitative analysis.

Methods: Individuals pregnant after January 1, 2020 who received perinatal care in Canada participated in our Pandemic Pregnancy Experiences eSurvey, September 1, 2021 to February 1, 2022. Open-ended survey responses were qualitatively evaluated by thematic and content analysis. Codes were identified both deductively and inductively, categorized using principles of woman-centered care, and developed into major and minor themes.

Results: Prenatal care and COVID-19 vaccination experiences were evaluated from 362 participants, with 234 participants also elaborating on their labor and delivery (L&D) care. Major themes organized by woman-centered care category as follows: Choice of Healthcare Provider (good quality healthcare provider, barriers to provider of choice), Autonomy-Healthcare (autonomy empowered, autonomy impacted), Choice of Delivery Place (wanted hospital birth, got hospital birth), Choice of Support Companion(s) (no support companion for prenatal appointments, hospital restrictions L&D support companion(s)), and, Autonomy-COVID-19 Vaccination (vaccinated while pregnant/breastfeeding).

Conclusions: Pregnancy and birth experiences were generally positive; however, both COVID-19 and existing constraints of provincial/territorial healthcare systems impacted Canadian perinatal experiences. Limited choice of healthcare provider type and access to prenatal and L&D support companion(s) affected perinatal care satisfaction.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; COVID-19 vaccines; antenatal care; pregnancy; prenatal care; qualitative research.

Plain language summary

Pandemic perinatal care experiencesGiven the widespread impact of the pandemic on Canadian society, this study explored women’s experiences of Canadian perinatal healthcare. Study participants identified both regional health care system limitations together with COVID-19 hospital policies as adversely impacted their pregnancy experiences.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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