Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2025
09:03
The Perinatal Asphyxiated Lamb Model: A Model for Newborn Resuscitation
Published on: August 15, 2018
10.9K
Stillbirth occurrence during COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based prospective study
Cristina Salerno1, Valeria Donno1, Beatrice Melis1
1Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Mother-Infant and Adult Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine
|June 7, 2022
Summary
During the COVID-19 pandemic, stillbirth (SB) rates remained stable, with no significant changes observed. This suggests the virus
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Contradictory data exists on stillbirth (SB) rates globally during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Variations in SB rates may stem from differing methodologies or population characteristics.
- Assessing pandemic-related changes in SB rates, risk factors, causes of death, and antenatal care quality is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate changes in stillbirth (SB) rates during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic periods.
- To identify shifts in SB risk factors, causes of death, and the quality of antenatal care.
- To determine if COVID-19 directly or indirectly impacted stillbirth rates.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study utilizing the Emilia-Romagna Surveillance system database.
- Descriptive analysis of SB rates, risk factors, causes of death, and care quality.
- Comparison of data from March 2020-June 2021 (pandemic) with the preceding 16 months (control).
Main Results:
- The SB rate during the pandemic was 3.45/1,000 births, consistent with control periods.
- Increased neonatal birth weight ( >90th centile) was the only significant risk factor change (2.2% vs. 8.0%, p=0.024).
- No significant differences were observed in causes of death, suboptimal antenatal care rates, or the frequency of obstetric/ultrasound evaluations.
Conclusions:
- Adequate antenatal care levels were maintained during the pandemic, with no significant increase in stillbirth (SB) rates.
- Observed associations between SB rates and COVID-19 are likely due to indirect impacts, not direct viral effects.
- Findings suggest that robust antenatal care can mitigate potential pandemic-related increases in stillbirths.
Related Concept Videos
01:08Prevalence and Incidence
842
In statistical epidemiology and health sciences, two essential metrics—prevalence and incidence—are fundamental for understanding disease dynamics within a population. These measures enable public health officials, epidemiologists, and researchers to assess the burden of diseases, allocate resources effectively, and design impactful public health policies and interventions.
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
842
01:29Bias in Epidemiological Studies
713
Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:
713
01:27Confounding in Epidemiological Studies
280
Confounding in statistical epidemiology represents a pivotal challenge, referring to the distortion in the perceived relationship between an exposure and an outcome due to the presence of a third variable, known as a confounder. This variable is associated with both the exposure and the outcome but is not a direct link in their causal chain. Its presence can lead to erroneous interpretations of the exposure's effect, either exaggerating or underestimating the true association. This...
280