Providing Emotional Support and Physical Comfort During a Time of Social Distancing: A Thematic Analysis of Doulas' Experiences During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Doulas are trained, non-clinical professionals that provide a continuum of support for mothers. An interpretive phenomenological approach was used to explore the professional experiences of doulas (n = 17) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. Data were collected using brief intake surveys, in-dep...

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Published inCommunity health equity research & policy (Print) Vol. 44; no. 1; pp. 89 - 98
Main Authors Jewett, Christian G., Sobiech, Kathleen L., Donahue, Marie C., Alexandrova, Maria, Bucher, Sherri
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.10.2023
Subjects
COVID-19
doulas
relational autonomy
obstetric labor
pregnancy
economic status
qualitative research
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Summary:Doulas are trained, non-clinical professionals that provide a continuum of support for mothers. An interpretive phenomenological approach was used to explore the professional experiences of doulas (n = 17) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. Data were collected using brief intake surveys, in-depth semi-structured interviews, and an online discussion group. After a list of significant statements was created and grouped during emergent themes analysis, the reflections were summarized into three themes, (1) Doula Resilience, (2) Experiencing Vulnerability, and (3) Concern for Client Vulnerability that encapsulate the experiences of doulas during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conclude that as part of the COVID-19 recovery process, policy makers should look to non-clinical interventions for improving maternal health, such as promoting and supporting synergy between doulas and other maternal health service providers.
ISSN:2752-535X
2752-5368
DOI:10.1177/0272684X221094172