Impact of COVID-19 Control Measures on Birth Outcomes in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Studies of the associations between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) control measures and infant health in Vietnam are limited. This study investigated differences in birth outcomes between pregnancies during the COVID-19 pandemic and those before the pandemic.

Data on infants born alive between 2016 and 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) were collected. For each infant, the estimated first day of pregnancy was calculated based on birth date and gestational age. Linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify significant associations. The birth outcomes examined included decreased birth weight (BW), low birth weight (LBW), term LBW, and preterm birth (PTB). The models were adjusted for infant sex, birth order, gestational age, and maternal age. The COVID-19 pandemic period in HCMC was defined as April 2020 to December 2022.

Among 172 017 infants, 31.4% had at least 1 trimester of gestation during the COVID-19 pandemic, 44.2% were first births, and 52.0% were male. Infants with full gestation during the pandemic had significantly lower BW (by 20.7 g) compared to those born pre-pandemic. Pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with higher rates of LBW, term LBW, and PTB compared to the pre-pandemic period. The odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.21 (1.15 to 1.27), 1.28 (1.18 to 1.39), and 1.10 (1.06 to 1.15), respectively.

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with elevated risk of adverse birth outcomes. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 response should be applied to prepare for future outbreaks.