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

Abstract

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. The study aimed to identify the knowledge of Iranian midwives about COVID-19 during pregnancy, delivery, postpartum, and neonatal feeding. 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. 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). Midwives' knowledge about COVID-19 during pregnancy, delivery, postpartum, and neonatal feeding was moderate. 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.