Abstract
BACKGROUND: Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a lack of consensus regarding maternity care infection mitigation practices, including maternal-infant separation when COVID-19 was suspected or confirmed, partner presence and breastfeeding. AIM: To gain insight into the perceived maternity care and birth experiences of women during and following the COVID-19 pandemic in two neighbouring WHO European-Region countries. METHODS: Qualitative content analysis was conducted using the text responses to open-ended questions in an online survey regarding hospital-based maternity care experiences of 157 women who gave birth between 2020-2023 in Cyprus and Israel. FINDINGS: Three common themes of women's experiences and perceptions in both countries were identified: COVID-19 shaped maternity care context; professional atmosphere of the birth experience; and professionalism of breastfeeding support. Women feared infection, faced restricted partner presence, were separated from their infants, experienced unprofessional communication and received limited breastfeeding support. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight that challenges were amplified during the pandemic, underscoring the urgency for healthcare providers and policymakers to address these concerns. Findings can inform improvement of post-pandemic maternity care to enhance birth experiences and guide emergency preparedness, protecting the needs and rights of birthing women, including permitting a companion of choice, reducing maternal-infant separation and providing early breastfeeding support. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials NCT04847336.