Pregnant Women’s Experiences of Social Isolation and Diminished Social Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study
International Journal of Women's Health and Reproduction Sciences, cilt.14, sa.1, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 14 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.15296/ijwhr.1001
- Dergi Adı: International Journal of Women's Health and Reproduction Sciences
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, CINAHL, EMBASE
- Anahtar Kelimeler: COVID-19, Maternal health services, Pregnancy, Qualitative research, Social isolation, Social support, Turkey
- İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objectives: Public health crises can disrupt maternity care and weaken social support networks during pregnancy. This study aimed to explore pregnant women’s lived experiences of social isolation and diminished social support during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Istanbul, Turkey. Materials and Methods: A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted within an interpretivist framework. Twelve pregnant women residing in Istanbul were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling during April–May 2020. Data were collected through semi-structured, audio-recorded online interviews conducted in Turkish. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Coding was performed on the original Turkish transcripts, and selected quotations were translated into English and checked against the source transcripts. Results: Three main themes and nine subthemes were identified. Concerns about physical health reflected media-related anxiety, perceptions of hospitals as high-risk environments, and disrupted continuity of care. Reconfigured social support described changes in partner support, loss of embodied contact with family and friends, and partial reliance on online support. Coping with isolation and uncertainty included spirituality, home-based activities, and the perception of home as a safe space. Participants experienced isolation not merely as physical separation, but as a disruption of relational security, professional reassurance, and culturally embedded support practices. Conclusions: Social isolation during pregnancy was shaped by healthcare uncertainty, altered interpersonal relationships, and culturally meaningful coping resources. Crisis-responsive maternity care should preserve continuity with trusted providers, support safe family involvement, and integrate culturally responsive psychosocial resources alongside telehealth services.