Health‐related quality of life and quality of care in pregnant and postnatal women during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A cohort study

OBJECTIVE: Health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and the delivery of high‐quality care are ongoing concerns when caring for pregnant women during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. We compared self‐reported HRQoL and hospital quality of care among perinatal women with and without COVID‐19. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study of perinatal women attending a tertiary maternity unit during the pandemic. Eighteen women who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and 20 SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative women were recruited. Participants completed the Short Form Health Survey (SF‐12), Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation‐Outcome Measure, and Quality from the Patient's Perspective questionnaires. Mean scores were compared. RESULTS: Of the Non‐COVID‐19 cohort, 95% (n = 19) were Caucasian, whereas 67% (n = 12) of the COVID‐19 cohort were not Caucasian (χ (2) = 16.01, P < 0.001). The mean SF‐12 for physical health in the COVID‐19 cohort had significantly lower scores (P < 0.002). There was no difference in mental health and well‐being between cohorts. The quality of care experienced was notably similar and very positive. CONCLUSION: There was a significantly greater burden on physical health among pregnant women with COVID‐19. Mental health and psychological status were similar in both groups. High quality of care during a pandemic is possible to deliver in a maternity setting, irrespective of COVID‐19 status.