The Effect of the Box Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 on the Safety and Confidence of Pregnant Women during Childbirth

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The spread of the COVID-19 virus has affected pregnant women as well as newborns. In the delivery room, contracting COVID-19 can occur easily because of the close proximity of secretions such as blood, amniotic fluid and saliva from a pregnant mother who has been diagnosed with COVID-19. During the delivery period, pregnant women tend to strain to give birth, meaning they often cry and pull their masks off in order to gasp for air. Such activities create the possibility of spreading the COVID-19 virus to other pregnant women, as well as doctors, nurses and others in the immediate area.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the effect of the box preventing the spread of COVID-19 when considering the safety and confidence of pregnant women during childbirth.

METHODS: This was a research and development study of innovation concerning the box preventing the spread of COVID-19. The research samples included 30 women who were giving birth and received either an Antigen Test Kit (ATK) or no ATK at Phrapokklao Hospital, Chanthaburi. Data were collected from February 2022 to February 2023. The research instruments consisted of a short video clip used to enhance understanding of the need for using innovation and a questionnaire. Data were analyzed by frequency and percentage. The averages for safety and confidence scores were compared between before and after using the box to prevent the spread of COVID-19 innovation by descriptive statistics.

RESULTS: The findings showed that there was a high level of safety and confidence in the innovative box to prevent the spread of COVID-19 during the maternity period. The average scores and standard deviations were 62.3±3.9 and 37.2±3.9, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: This research suggests that the box to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is a viable option to safely prevent the spread of infectious respiratory diseases.