Stillbirths and the COVID-19 pandemic: Looking beyond SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Int J Gynaecol Obstet
; 153(1): 76-82, 2021 Apr.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-995958
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To study the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown on the incidence, associated causes, and modifiable factors of stillbirth.METHODS:
An analytical case-control study was performed comparing stillbirths from March to September 2020 (cases) and March to September 2019 (controls) in a tertiary care center in India. Modifiable factors were observed as level-I, level-II, and level-III delays.RESULTS:
A significant difference in the rate of stillbirths was found among cases (37.4/1000) and controls (29.9/1000) (P = 0.045). Abruption in normotensive women was significantly higher in cases compared to controls (P = 0.03). Modifiable factors or preventable causes were noted in 76.1% of cases and 59.6% of controls; the difference was highly significant (P < 0.001, relative risk [RR] 1.8). Level-II delays or delays in reaching the hospital for delivery due to lack of transport were observed in 12.7% of cases compared to none in controls (P < 0.006, RR 47.7). Level-III delays or delays in providing care at the facility were observed in 31.3% of cases and 11.5% of controls (P < 0.001, RR 2.7).CONCLUSION:
Although there was no difference in causes of stillbirth between cases and controls, level-II and level-III delays were significantly impacted by the pandemic, leading to a higher rate of preventable stillbirths in pregnant women not infected with COVID-19.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pregnancy Complications
/
Communicable Disease Control
/
Stillbirth
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Int J Gynaecol Obstet
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Ijgo.13564
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