Table 3 Studies presenting results on the role of doulas in providing breastfeeding support during the COVID-19 pandemic
From: The role of doulas in providing breastfeeding support during the COVID-19 pandemic
Reference | Journal | Study Design | Study Population | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Adams, 2021 (United States) [25] | Birth | Qualitative research: Semi-structured phone interviews with 15 birth doulas to discuss COVID-19-related pregnancy and birth challenges and how doulas navigated these challenges | N = 15 Doulas | Doulas clients experience three primary pregnancy and childbirth barriers related to COVID-19: (i) fear of exposure, (ii) limited access to their intended support systems, and (iii) uncertainty about hospital restrictions on labor and delivery. Doulas responded deftly, helping their clients face these obstacles |
Nguyen et al., 2021 (United States) [26] | Health Communication | Qualitative research: Thematic analysis of 25 semi-structured interviews of doulas in the United States to understand the impact of the pandemic on doula service delivery to birthing people | N = 25 Doulas | Despite the difficulties in providing remote services for clients during the pandemic, telemedicine gave doulas a way to connect with them and teach them coping mechanisms. Doulas' experiences during the pandemic may shape future care practices, especially for low-income and underserved communities |
Oparah et al., 2021 (United States) [27] | Frontiers in Sociology | Qualitative research: Narratives from Black birth workers to investigate the effects of hospital and clinic restriction on maternal and child health standards of care as well as the presence of birth support staff and doulas during the pandemic | N = 38 birth health workers, including doulas, | Black doulas navigated racial tensions and violence to support nursing mothers during the pandemic |
Reyes, 2021 (United States) [28] | Frontiers in Sociology | Mixed methods: Assess the impact of COVID-19 on childbirth in Puerto Rico | N = 11 birth health workers, including doulas | The lack of institutional support for Puerto Rican midwives and doulas poses significant challenges to doula services during the pandemic |
Rivera, 2021 (United States) [29] | Frontiers in Sociology | Mixed methods: Documentation of community-based doulas' transition to virtual work with Black and Afro-Latinx communities, beginning in 2019 through the COVID-19 pandemic, using online interviews and virtual meetings to document the transition from face-face to virtual encounters | N = 6 Doulas | Despite various barriers encountered by doulas in New York State, two organizations in this study provided tailored maternal health support to black and brown mothers during the pandemic |
Schindler-Ruwisch & Phillips, 2021 (United States) [13] | Journal Of Human Lactation | Prospective study: An online survey using the Qualtrics platform to determine changes in breastfeeding support services reported by certified lactation providers during the COVID-19 pandemic | N = 39 Certified lactation providers, including doulas | Although virtual breastfeeding support was beneficial during the pandemic, visits to lactation professionals plummeted. Technical, logistical, and difficulty assisting with latching, among others, were significant challenges that doulas and their clients encountered |
Searcy & Castañeda, 2021 (Multiple countries) [30] | Frontiers in Sociology | Qualitative: Interviews of 515 doulas in 24 countries to learn about their experiences navigating service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seventy-five percent of respondents were doulas in 42 of the 50 states in the US. The remaining participants are from 22 countries, including South Africa, Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy, Finland, Portugal, Ireland, Sweden, Japan, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Israel, Peru, India, Dubai, Mexico, Argentina, and Bolivia | N = 515 Doulas | A key theme of this study is the absence of a doula during births and the accompanying necessity to help birthing people virtually. Doulas also had mixed emotions about the efficacy of virtual support, raising concerns about COVID's long-term effects on their profession |
Davis-Floyd et al., 2020 (United States) [31] | Medical Anthropology | Survey: Online survey to assess the effects of the changing COVID-19 guidelines on birthing options during the COVID-19 pandemic and the future policy implications of those guidelines to improve maternal care during a pandemic and any other crisis | N = 41 Health workers, including doulas | Doulas were barred from birthing rooms, leaving mothers alone; vagueness in COVID-19 guidelines made it difficult for providers, including doulas |