Perinatal Experiences of Black Women During COVID‐19: A Qualitative Study Guided by the Public Health Critical Race Praxis

Abstract

Pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges for all women; however, the experiences of Black women were particularly affected by intersecting processes and systems such as race, class, gender, socioeconomic status, and healthcare access. The objective of this study was to explore the perinatal experiences of Black women amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a qualitative study. Inclusion criteria were self-identification as a Black woman aged 18-49; experienced at least one pregnancy from March 2020 to May 2023; received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine during the perinatal period; and residence in Greater Philadelphia. Interviews (n = 22) were conducted by trained researchers and were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, and analyzed inductively. Participants were incentivized for their time. The average age of the participants was 33.5 (±6.2) years. Of 28 pregnancies, 22 resulted in live births, two ended in miscarriages, two in abortions, and two participants were pregnant during data collection. Three main themes were identified: (1) emotional impact of COVID-19; (2) experiences of COVID-19 illness during pregnancy and postpartum; and (3) impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on perinatal experiences. The perinatal experiences of Black women during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed critical gaps in our maternal healthcare system. Hence, culturally sensitive and targeted crisis preparedness and readiness strategies, such as community-led response teams, for minority groups during health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, are warranted.