Analysis of Perinatal Outcome During COVID- 19 Pandemic Lockdown: a
cross sectional study
Abstract
Background: Fear of hospitalization in addition to uncertainties about
appropriate treatment at the beginning of COVID -19 pandemic may have
affected the health and outcome of pregnant women. Lack of
transportation, closed out -patient services, and lack of employment has
directly linked to poor maternal and perinatal outcomes during
nationwide lockdown. This study aimed to assess perinatal outcome during
the first COVID-19 pandemic lockdown at BPKIHS. Methods: This is a
Descriptive Cross- Sectional Study conducted in a tertiary care center
in Eastern Nepal from 24th march 2020 to 23rd July 2020 during the first
COVID- 19 lockdown. Poor perinatal outcomes: perinatal death, preterm
delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, newborn admission, and
different reasons for admission were analyzed using descriptive
statistics. Results: There were a total of 2685 obstetric admissions and
2442 deliveries during the study period of 4 months. The perinatal death
rate was 26.2 per 1000 births. One hundred and twenty- eight newborns
required neonatal admission and prematurity was the most common cause.
Mean age and gestational age of women with poor perinatal outcome were
27.16 ± 6.02 years and 36.38± 4.54 weeks respectively. Conclusions:
Despite the availability of comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care
(CEOC) at our center, poor perinatal outcome is still high. Which was
directly or indirectly affected by COVID-19 pandemic lockdown as there
was closure of OPD services, elective surgery, and most importantly lack
of transportation.