A survey on Iranian midwives’ knowledge about COVID-19 during pregnancy, delivery, postpartum, and neonatal feeding

Fatemeh Azarkish; Roksana Janghorban

doi:10.3855/jidc.16779

A survey on Iranian midwives’ knowledge about COVID-19 during pregnancy, delivery, postpartum, and neonatal feeding

Authors

Fatemeh Azarkish Tropical and Communicable Diseases Research Center, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran
Roksana Janghorban Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research Center, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7831-8401

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.16779

Keywords:

Breastfeeding, COVID-19, knowledge, midwifery, pregnancy, postpartum

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the care that maternal and newborn health professionals, especially midwives, provide. If they know how to care for COVID-19 patients during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum, they can manage these cases better. The study aimed to identify the knowledge of Iranian midwives about COVID-19 during pregnancy, delivery, postpartum, and neonatal feeding.

Aim: The study aimed to identify the knowledge of Iranian midwives about COVID-19 during pregnancy, delivery, postpartum, and neonatal feeding.

Methodology: This cross‑sectional study was conducted on 438 Iranian midwives from March to April 2021. Personal data and knowledge of them were gathered using an electronic web-based questionnaire. The statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software version 18.

Results: The mean age of participants was 31.8 ± 2.3. The mean knowledge score of midwives was 11.2 ± 2.8, which was moderate. 91.55% of Midwives were more knowledgeable about COVID-19 infection symptoms in pregnant women. 34.93% and 31.05% of midwives had correct knowledge about vaccination against COVID-19 during pregnancy and breastfeeding, respectively. Results showed no statistically significant relationship between personal characteristics and knowledge of them (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Midwives’ knowledge about COVID-19 during pregnancy, delivery, postpartum, and neonatal feeding was moderate. Recommendations: Continuing educational programs are needed by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education to design and implement for improving healthcare professionals’ knowledge about COVID-19 during pregnancy, delivery, postpartum, and neonatal feeding.

Author Biography

Fatemeh Azarkish, Tropical and Communicable Diseases Research Center, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran

PhD in Reproductive Health, Assistant Professor, Tropical and Communicable Diseases Research Center, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran

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Published

2023-07-27

How to Cite

Azarkish F, Janghorban R (2023) A survey on Iranian midwives’ knowledge about COVID-19 during pregnancy, delivery, postpartum, and neonatal feeding. J Infect Dev Ctries 17:905–910. doi: 10.3855/jidc.16779

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Issue

Vol. 17 No. 07: July 2023

Section

Coronavirus Pandemic

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