The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Maternity Services: A Review of Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes Before, During and After the Pandemic

Overview

Journal Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol

Specialties Gynecology & Obstetrics
Reproductive Medicine

Date 2020 Nov 3

PMID 33142263

Citations 42

Authors

Sarah McDonnell

Emma McNamee

Stephen W Lindow

Michael P OConnell

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To explore any apparent trends in maternal or neonatal outcomes during the Covid-19 pandemic by comparing the maternity outcomes before, during and after the pandemic.

Study Design: A retrospective review was performed of maternity statistics recorded on the hospital database of a large tertiary referral centre in Dublin with over 8000 deliveries per annum from 1st January to 31st July 2020. This time period represented the months prior to, during the peak and following the pandemic in Ireland.

Results: There was no correlation between the monthly number of Covid deaths and the monthly number of perinatal deaths (r = 0.465, NS), preterm births (r = 0.339, NS) or hypertensive pregnancies (r = 0.48, NS). Compared to the combined numbers for the same month in 2018 and 2019, there were no significant changes in perinatal deaths or preterm births in the months when Covid deaths were at their height. The rate of preterm birth was significantly less common in January-July 2020 compared to January-July in 2018/2019 (7.4 % v 8.6 %, chi-sq 4.53, P = 0.03).

Conclusion: The was no evidence of a negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on maternity services, as demonstrated by maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Citing Articles

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A qualitative exploration of the COVID-19 pandemic on health and nutrition behaviours during the first 1000 days in Sri Lanka.

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Domestic Violence in Pregnancy during the Pandemic Era: a Systematic Review.

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Malla L, Ohuma E, Shabani J, Ngwala S, Dosunmu O, Wainaina J BMC Pediatr. 2024; 23(Suppl 2):657.

PMID: 38977945 PMC: 11232189. DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-04873-1.

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