Adverse pregnancy outcomes during the COVID-19 lockdown. A descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Public Health
• Neonatology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns caused widespread lifestyle changes and disrupted antenatal care.
• These disruptions may have variable effects on pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirth, mortality, and birth weight.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess changes in stillbirth, neonatal-perinatal mortality, preterm birth, and birth weight during the COVID-19 national lockdown in Jordan.

Main Methods:

• A surveillance system data was used to compare pregnancy outcomes before (May 2019-March 2020) and during (April 2020-March 2021) the COVID-19 lockdown.
• Logistic regression models adjusted for maternal factors were employed to analyze differences in outcomes.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were observed in preterm birth, stillbirth, neonatal, or perinatal mortality rates between the two periods.
• A significant decrease in the incidence of extreme low birth weight (ELBW) infants (<1kg) was found during the COVID-19 lockdown (adjusted OR 0.39).

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 lockdown period was associated with a significant reduction in the number of infants born with extreme low birth weight (ELBW).
• Further investigation is required to understand the impact of pandemic-induced socio-environmental and behavioral changes on factors contributing to ELBW.