The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternity services in Europe: a mixed methods systematic review protocol

This systematic review seeks to synthesis and integrate the latest available evidence on the changes which have occurred in maternity services and maternity care provision, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, across

Europe. Governments and hospital institutions have had to introduce various measures and reorganise their maternity services to protect their patients and the staff and limit the propagation of the SARS-Cov2 virus. These measures have been shown to have an impact on maternity care provision and access, and on pregnant women's attitudes and/or accessibility to seek the necessary care. Since the pandemic declaration in March 2020, the number of commentaries,

research, or expert letters have soared. However, there is so far, to our knowledge no review synthesising the evidence of the changes that have occurred in maternity services, in Europe. Our proposed mixed methods systematic review will include quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies and provide a comprehensive understanding on the changes which have occurred, through quantitative observations and maternity healthcare professionals' perspectives

• HES-SO - Haute école spécialisée de Suisse occidentale - Rectorat