Importance of Quality of Maternal and Newborn Care in Childbirth: Findings Over Time of the Imagine Euro Study on 40 WHO Standard-Based Quality Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Latvia

The objectives of the study were to investigate the quality of maternal and newborn care (QMNC) from the view of mothers who gave birth in a healthcare facility during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia. An online questionnaire survey was conducted in Latvia from 1 March 2020 to 28 October 2021, which was based on 40 World Health Organisation (WHO) Standard-based Quality measures. In addition, descriptive and multivariate quantile regression analyses were performed to compare the years 2020 and 2021. A total of 2079 women participated in the study, of whom 833 gave birth in 2020 — of them, 648 had a vaginal delivery, and 185 had a cesarean section, and 1205 women gave birth in 2021, 979 with a vaginal delivery, and 226 with a cesarean section. A lower QMNC during the COVID-19 pandemic was reported by 29.8% and 24.5% of respondents in 2020 and 2021. The total QMNC Index was notably higher in 2021 compared to 2020. This study showed essential gaps in the QMNC in Latvia perceived by mothers, while observing a slight increase in quality in 2021. Therefore, strategies to improve mothers’ and newborns’ health care should be introduced as soon as possible.