Determinants of perinatal medical care at the ambulatory level in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic

It is important to determine mothers’ perceptions of health care services during the pandemic to ensure equity in the provision of such services in the future.The objective: to determine the determinants of pregnant women’s perception of perinatal care services during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and methods. An original sociological study was conducted to assess the state of perinatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic using a questionnaire. 110 questionnaires were included in the analysis. Group 1 included 45 female respondents were sick with COVID-19 during pregnancy, group 2 – 65 women were not sick with COVID-19 during pregnancy. All questionnaires were analysed both in the general sample and in the section of COVID-19 during pregnancy.Results. Certain shortcomings in the provision of perinatal care during the COVID-19 pandemic at the ambulatory level were identified. Insufficient vaccination coverage of pregnant women (65.5% of respondents were vaccinated during pregnancy). 87.3% of patients considered insufficient information about vaccination of pregnant women. A negative attitude towards vaccination during pregnancy was expressed by 30.0% of respondents. 65.4% of respondents considered insufficient availability of perinatal care in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote counseling was received by less than half of patients (41.8%), and mainly those who were sick with COVID-19 (62.2%). A negative attitude towards remote counseling was expressed by 49.1% of women. More than half (56.4%) of the respondents considered the provided information about COVID-19, treatment and prevention to be insufficient. Only 9.1% of patients received full psychological support. Half of the patients were not satisfied with the qualifications of the medical staff, and 59.1% were not satisfied with the staff’s attitude. More than half (55.4%) of patients were not satisfied with the care provided at the outpatient stage in general, especially those who did not suffer from COVID-19, which may be due to a shift in the focus of attention on infected pregnant women.Conclusions. The following positions can be recommended to improve perinatal care: expansion of information provision of the population, in particular with the involvement of mass media; conducting explanatory work with patients on prevention, vaccination, treatment, possible complications during pregnancy; provision of remote counseling in possible cases; psychological support of the pregnant woman and her family at all stages of perinatal care.