Pregnant Canadians and Public Health Communication During the Early Pandemic

Sarah Rudrum, PhD

ABSTRACT

Background: Pregnant Canadians have particular information needs during a public health crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, participants relied on their primary care providers in the absence of clear public health messages that focused on the context of pregnancy and the needs of pregnant people.

Methods: A qualitative study in which pregnant Canadians wrote journal entries about their care experiences in response to prompts during the early COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings: Participants were cared for by a range of primary care provider types. Those seeing midwives had the most positive experiences with seeking information related to how the pandemic would affect their lives and pregnancies. However, it was also clear that the absence of provincial and federal messaging directed towards pregnant people created the potential for inconsistency and harms.

This article has been peer reviewed.

Pregnant Canadians and Public Health Communication During the Early Pandemic (532 KB)