COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact on Obstetric Services and Outcome: A
Retrospective Study
Abstract
Objective To determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and service
modification on obstetric outcomes. Design: Single centre retrospective
study Setting: Royal Bolton Hospital, United Kingdom. Population or
Sample: Obstetric population in the prepandemic and pandemic periods.
Methods Data on Obstetric services and pregnancy outcomes of women
during the pandemic was compared to those of women prior to the pandemic
and introduction of service modification. Statistical analysis was
performed using SPSS, with data comparison between both groups done
using nonparametric Chi-square test. Main Outcome Measures: Comparable
perinatal and maternal outcomes. Results There was no significant
difference in the induction of labour rates (38.8% pre-pandemic vs
38.3% pandemic, p= 0.78), use of epidural anaesthesia in labour (13.2%
prepandemic vs 15.9% pandemic, p= 0.06), instrumental deliveries
(13.0% prepandemic vs 12.3% pandemic, p= 0.56) and caesarean sections
(28.9% prepandemic vs 31.7% pandemic, p= 0.09). There was significant
reduction in the use of general anaesthesia for caesarean sections
(8.9% vs 4.9%, p= 0.03) as well as antenatal admissions during the
pandemic (23.9% vs 18.5%, p= <0.0001). The number of
antenatal growth scans performed during the pandemic was significantly
increased (18.5% vs 20.1%, p= <0.003). The perinatal outcome
in both periods are comparable, with no significant difference in the
rates of preterm birth, stillbirth, early neonatal deaths and neonatal
unit admissions. Conclusions Despite changes in obstetric care following
the pandemic, pregnant women were able to access care with no
significant adverse impact on obstetric outcomes. Keywords Coronavirus,
COVID-19, Service modification, Obstetric outcome.