Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic on First and Second Trimester Pregnancies

ABSTRACT

Objective: Main purpose of this study is to determine the effects of pandemic disease COVID-19 on first and second trimester pregnancies. Study Design: Cross-sectional/Descriptive study Place and Duration Study was conducted at Gynae and Obs department of Jinnah International Hospital, Abbottabad for duration of 10 months from January to October, 2021. Methods: Total ninety pregnant women of ages 18- 35 years were presented in this study. All the presented women had pandemic disease COVID-19. Women had first and second trimester pregnancies. Patients' age, body mass index, parity, education status, socio-economic status and residency were calculated after taking informed written consent. Chi square and t-test was performed to differentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. Outcomes were assessed in terms of stress, depression among mothers and low birth weight of infants, perinatal death, preterm delivery, and C-section. Data was analyzed by SPSS 23.0 version. Results: Among 90 pregnant women 40 (44.4%) patients had first trimester pregnancies and 50 (55.6%) females had second trimester pregnancies. Mean age of the patients was 29.16±6.34 years and had mean BMI 22.13±5.16 kg/m2. Majority of the patients 52 (57.8%) had parity primipara. 44 (48.9%) patients were educated and majority of the patients were financially weak 62 (68.9%). 55 (61.1%) females were from urban areas. 54 (60%) females were symptomatic and 36 (40%) were asymptomatic. Frequency of depression among females was 68 (75.6%) and depression was found in 61 (67.8%) cases. Low birth weight was found in 22 (24.4%) cases, prevalence of preterm delivery was among 38 (42.2%) cases, number of C-section among cases was 47 (52.2%). Perinatal death was found in 7 (7.8%) cases. Majority of the patients with infants were instantly discharged after delivery 75 (83.3%) and 8 patients were admitted because of severity of pandemic disease. Conclusion: We determined in this study that Covid-19 among females with trimester first and second pregnancies were highly affected and had severity of psychotic disorders at start of disease but had lower adverse outcomes with low perinatal mortality. Majority of the females were recovered and discharged safely after delivery.