Evaluation of Virtual Prenatal Care for Obstetric Care Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Method Research Study Using the Consolidated Framework in Implementation Research
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21106/ijma.649Keywords:
- Maternal Health,
- Health Services,
- Women’s Health,
- Patient Perspective,
- Telemedicine,
- Virtual Prenatal Care,
- Prenatal Care,
- Implementation,
- COVID-19
Abstract
Background and Objective: Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel respiratory virus, rapidly spread, and placed patients at increased risk for short and potentially long-standing medical illnesses. The pandemic necessitated the rapid implementation of virtual prenatal care via telemedicine in obstetrics to maintain social distancing measures. The aim of this study was to assess and understand the patient perspectives of the rapidly implemented virtual prenatal care via a telemedicine model during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic utilizing the Consolidated Framework in Implementation Research (CFIR).
Methods: Following the implementation of virtual prenatal care in March 2020, pregnant patients at a large urban clinic in the southeastern United States completed a 19-question anonymous survey that included open and closed-ended questions on their experience receiving virtual prenatal care via telemedicine or inperson prenatal care from May to December 2020. The survey and mixed-methods data analysis was guided by the CFIR framework.
Results: A total of 59 patients completed the survey. One-third (31%, n=18) of the patients found virtual prenatal care to be an acceptable alternative model, and half (53%, n=31) found it acceptable only during a pandemic, preferring to return to in-person visits. Qualitative analysis found that some patients were deterred by limited in-person examinations and uncertainty with the virtual platform, while others appreciated the reduced need for transportation, childcare, and time spent.
Conclusion and Global Health Implications: Most patients found virtual prenatal care to be easy to access and an acceptable alternative during the pandemic; however, most would prefer to return to in-person prenatal care visits. Future comparative research studies should examine how, among others, virtual prenatal care versus in-person prenatal care impacts specific maternal and fetal outcomes.
Downloads
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Kimberly Fryer, Chinyere N. Reid, Naciely Cabral, Jennifer Marshall, Usha Menon, Exploring Patients’ Needs and Desires for Quality Prenatal Care in Florida, United States , International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS: Vol. 12 No. 1 (2023): International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS
Similar Articles
- Gopal K. Singh, Hyunjung Lee, Lyoung Hee Kim, Shanita D. Williams, Social Determinants of Health Among American Indians and Alaska Natives and Tribal Communities: Comparison with Other Major Racial and Ethnic Groups in the United States, 1990–2022 , Vol. 13 No. Continuous (2024): International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS
- Ahmed Zohirul Islam, Nazrul Islam Mondal, Laily Khatun, Mosiur Rahman, Rafiqul Islam, Golam Mostofa, Nazrul Hoque, Prevalence and Determinants of Contraceptive use among Employed and Unemployed Women in Bangladesh , Vol. 5 No. 2 (2016): International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS
- Ahmad Abdulhadi, Nasiru Abdullahi, Ibrahim Yusuf, Basheer I. Waziri, Kasimu Mamuda , Husna F. Ibrahim, Khadija Muhammad, Maryam M. Ibrahim , Aisha A. Abdullahi, Hassan A. Murtala, Muhammad A. Abbas, Hamisu M. Salihu, A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on Innovative Approaches in Tuberculosis Diagnosis: Challenges and Future Directions , Vol. 15 (2026): International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS
- Alicia E. Hersey, Betty Norman, Rebecca Reece, Assessing Reproductive Decision-making Among HIV-Positive Women in Kumasi, Ghana , Vol. 8 No. 1 (2019): International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS
- Wah Myint, Aishatu Yusuf, Angela Nguyen, Elfreda Samman, HIV Testing, Household and Reproductive Health Decision-Making: The Role of Women Autonomy in a Nationally Representative Study in Cambodia , Vol. 14 No. Continuous (2025): International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS
- Fatimah Isma’il Tsiga-Ahmed, Taiwo Gboluwaga Amole, Baba Maiyaki Musa, Aishatu Muhammad Nalado, Omeiza Baba Agoyi, Hadiza Shehu Galadanci, Hamisu M. Salihu, COVID 19: Evaluating the Knowledge, Attitude and Preventive Practices of Healthcare Workers in Northern Nigeria , Vol. 10 No. 1 (2021): International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS
- María Isabel Roldós, Phaedra Corso, Justin Ingels, How much are Ecuadorians Willing to Pay to Reduce Maternal Mortality? Results from a Pilot Study on Contingent Valuation , Vol. 6 No. 1 (2017): International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS
- Neza Guillaine, Wilberforce Mwizerwa, Jackline Odhiambo, Bethany L. Hedt-Gauthier, Lisa R. Hirschhorn, Placidie Mugwaneza, Jean Paul Umugisha, Felix Rwabukwisi Cyamatare, Christine Mutaganzwa, Neil Gupta, A Novel Combined Mother-Infant Clinic to Optimize Post-Partum Maternal Retention, Service Utilization, and Linkage to Services in HIV Care in Rural Rwanda , Vol. 6 No. 1 (2017): International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS
- Ikenna J. Nwakamma, Amber Erinmwinhe, Arinzechukwu Ajogwu, Aniekan Udoh, Anne Ada-Ogoh, Mitigating Gender and Maternal and Child Health Injustices through Faith Community-Led Initiatives , Vol. 8 No. 2 (2019): International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS
- John Humphrey, James G Carlucci, Esther Karen Wanjama, Violet Naanyu, Lindah Muli, Joy Marsha Alera, Edwin Were, Alan McGuire, Winstone Nyandiko, Gregory Zimet, Julia Jerono Songok, Kara Wools Kaloustian, Implementing WHO Differentiated Service Delivery Model for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women and Infants Living with HIV: Insights from Kenyan Healthcare Providers , Vol. 14 No. Continuous (2025): International Journal of Maternal and Child Health and AIDS
<< < 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 > >>
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright © 2023 Arlin Delgado, Chinyere N. Reid, Emma Hale, Jennifer Marshall, Kimberly Fryer. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc., USA.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , which permits others to remix, transform, and build upon the work non-commercially, provided the original author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the same terms.