Background COVID‐19 preventive behaviors and preparedness are essential for healthcare workers, particularly nurses and midwives providing perinatal care who face higher exposure risks. However, data on compliance and readiness in maternity settings are limited. This study examined COVID‐19 preventive behaviors and outbreak preparedness among perinatal nurses and midwives in Qatar. Methods A descriptive cross‐sectional survey was conducted with 253 respondents from four maternity facilities in Qatar. Participants completed a self‐reported prevention checklist, a preventive behaviors survey, and a COVID‐19 preparedness scale. Results Among respondents, 86.6% reported adherence to preventive behaviors, with 79.2% routinely practicing measures such as hand hygiene, mask‐wearing, and disinfection. Preparedness for managing a COVID‐19 outbreak was reported by 81.4% of participants, and 60.1% had received formal training on outbreak management. Preventive behaviors and preparedness were significantly associated with age, duration of work experience, educational qualification, nationality, and length of stay in the Middle East. Conclusion Perinatal nurses and midwives in Qatar demonstrate generally high compliance with COVID‐19 preventive behaviors and outbreak preparedness. These behaviors can be further strengthened through needs‐based training, simulation‐based drills, resource provision, surveillance, and organizational support. Such initiatives are crucial in enhancing readiness to future outbreaks and protecting healthcare workers and vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and newborns.
Silang et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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