The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on maternity services: A review of maternal and neonatal outcomes before, during and after the pandemic. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McDonnell, Sarah; McNamee, Emma; Lindow, Stephen W.; O'Connell, Michael P.
• Is Part Of: European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology. Volume 255(2020)
• Page Start: 172
• Page End: 176
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Covid 19 -- Preterm birth -- Perinatal death -- Hypertension in pregnancy; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Reproductive health -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Reproduction -- Periodicals; Obstétrique -- Périodiques; Gynécologie -- Périodiques; Reproduction -- Périodiques; Verloskunde; Gynaecologie; Voortplanting (biologie); Gynecology; Obstetrics; Reproduction; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 618.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.10.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-2115

Abstract

Highlights: No negative impact on maternal or neonatal outcomes during the course of pandemic. A decrease in preterm birth rate was found during the Covid-19 pandemic. During the peak of the pandemic, there were less disclosures of domestic violence. 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.