Women’s experiences of maternity care in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland: a cross-sectional study

Background: The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly affected maternal care services.Aim of the study: This study aimed to identify the level of changes in care experienced by pregnant women during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare responses between three major modes of maternity care financing (public, fee-for-service and private healthcare subscriptions). Material and methods: This cross-sectional study of 685 pregnant women in Poland used the author’s questionnaire, which included questions on demographic data, maternity care mode of financing, and different aspects of care.Results: The vast majority (n=608, 95.6%) of respondents experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most frequently reported modification was no possibility of a partner being present during prenatal consultations and medical examinations (n=558, 87.7%). Those who used a private healthcare subscription experienced more frequent medical appointment cancellations (p=0.000), a decrease in the number of consultations (p=0.000), reduced healthcare service duration (p=0.019). Over half of respondents used teleconsultations or e-consultations. The respondents who used a healthcare subscription had lower satisfaction with maternity care across all issues than women who used public and fee-for service care.Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic affected women’s maternity care experiences, with the financing mode differentiating their experiences. An increase in the use of telemedicine for maternity care during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may provide a beneficial solution for future crises.