The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Care of Women Experiencing Abortion in a University Hospital in Brazil / O Impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 no atendimento de mulheres que vivenciam o aborto em um hospital universitário no Brasil

Abstract Objective To evaluate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the care of patients with miscarriage and legal termination of pregnancy in a university hospital in Brazil. Methods A cross-sectional study of women admitted for abortion due to any cause at Hospital da Mulher Prof. Dr. J. A. Pinotti of Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil, between July 2017 and September 2021. Dependent variables were abortion-related complications and legal interruption of pregnancy. Independent variables were prepandemic period (until February 2020) and pandemic period (from March 2020). The Cochran-Armitage test, Chi-squared test, Mann-Whitney test, and multiple logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results Five-hundred sixty-one women were included, 376 during the prepandemic period and 185 in the pandemic period. Most patients during pandemic were single, without comorbidities, had unplanned pregnancy, and chose to initiate contraceptive method after hospital discharge. There was no significant tendency toward changes in the number of legal interruptions or complications. Complications were associated to failure of the contraceptive method (odds ratio [OR] 2.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23-4.84), gestational age (OR 1.126; 95% CI 1.039-1.219), and preparation of the uterine cervix with misoprostol (OR 1.99; 95% CI 1.01-3.96). Conclusion There were no significant differences in duration of symptoms, transportation to the hospital, or tendency of reducing the number of legal abortions and increasing complications. The patients' profile probably reflects the impact of the pandemic on family planning.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar o impacto da pandemia de coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) no atendimento de pacientes com aborto espontâneo e interrupção legal da gravidez em um hospital universitário no Brasil. Métodos Estudo transversal com mulheres admitidas por aborto por qualquer causa no Hospital da Mulher Prof. Dr. J. A. Pinotti da Universidade de Campinas (UNICAMP), Brasil, entre julho de 2017 e setembro de 2021. As variáveis dependentes foram complicações relacionadas ao aborto e interrupção legal da gravidez. As variáveis independentes foram período pré-pandemia (até fevereiro de 2020) e período pandêmico (a partir de março de 2020). O teste de Cochran-Armitage, teste do qui-quadrado, teste de Mann-Whitney e regressão logística múltipla foram utilizados para análise estatística. Resultados Foram incluídas 561 mulheres, 376 no período pré-pandemia e 185 no período pandêmico. A maioria das pacientes durante a pandemia era solteira, sem comorbidades, teve gravidez não planejada e optou por iniciar método anticoncepcional após a alta hospitalar. Não houve tendência significativa para mudanças no número de interrupções legais ou complicações. As complicações foram associadas a: falha do método contraceptivo (razão de chances [RC] 2,44; intervalo de confiança [IC] 95% 1,23-4,84), idade gestacional (RC 1,126; IC 95% 1,039-1,219) e preparo do colo uterino com misoprostol (RC 1,99; IC 95% 1,01-3,96). Conclusão Não houve diferenças significativas na duração dos sintomas, transporte ao hospital ou tendência de redução do número de abortos legais e aumento de complicações. O perfil das pacientes provavelmente reflete o impacto da pandemia no planejamento familiar.

Factors Associated with Abortion Complications after the Implementation of a Surveillance Network (MUSA Network) in a University Hospital / Fatores associados a complicações do aborto após a implementação de um sistema de vigilância (Rede MUSA) em um hospital universitário

Abstract Objective To evaluate the factors associated with abortion complications following the implementation of the good-practice surveillance network Mujeres en Situación de Aborto (Women Undergoing Abortion, MUSA, in Spanish). Methods A cross-sectional study withwomen who underwent abortion due to any cause and in any age group at UNICAMP Women's Hospital (part of MUSA network), Campinas, Brazil, between July 2017 and Agust 2019. The dependent variable was the presence of any abortion-related complications during hospitalization. The independent variables were clinical and sociodemographic data. The Chi-square test, the Mann-Whitney test, and multiple logistic regression were used for the statistical analysis. Results Overall, 305 women were enrolled (mean±standard deviation [SD] for age: 29.79±7.54 years). The mean gestational age was 11.17 (±3.63) weeks. Accidental pregnancy occurred in 196 (64.5%) cases, 91 (29.8%) due to contraception failure. At least 1 complication was observed in 23 (7.54%) women, and 8 (34.8%) of them had more than 1. The most frequent complications were excessive bleeding and infection. The factors independently associated with a higher prevalence of complications were higher gestational ages (odds ratio [OR]: 1.22; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.09 to 1.37) and contraceptive failure (OR: 3.4; 95%CI: 1.32 to 8.71). Conclusion Higher gestational age and contraceptive failure were associated with a higher prevalence of complications. This information obtained through the surveillance network can be used to improve care, particularly in women more susceptible to unfavorable outcomes.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar os fatores associados às complicações em casos de aborto após a implementação da rede de vigilância de boas práticas Mujeres en Situación de Aborto (Mulheres em Situação de Aborto, MUSA, em espanhol). Métodos Um estudo transversal, com mulheres admitidas por aborto de qualquer causa e em qualquer faixa etária, no Hospital da Mulher da UNICAMP (parte da rede MUSA), Campinas, Brasil, entre julho de 2017 e agosto de 2019. A variável dependente foi a presença de qualquer complicação relacionada ao quadro de aborto durante a hospitalização. As variáveis independentes foram dados clínicos e sociodemográficos. O teste de qui-quadrado, o teste de Mann-Whitney, e a regressão logística múltipla foram usados na análise estatística. Resultados Foram incluídas 305 mulheres (média±desvio padrão [DP] da idade: 29,79±7,54 anos). A idade gestacional média foi de 11,17 (±3,63) semanas. A gravidez não foi planejada em 196 (64,5%) casos, 91 (29,8%) devido a falha de contraceptivo. Pelo menos 1 complicação foi observada em 23 (7,64%) mulheres, 8 (34,8%) das quais apresentaram mais de uma complicação. As complicações mais frequentes foram sangramento excessivo e infecção. Os fatores independentemente associados à maior prevalência de complicações foram idades gestacionais maiores (razão de chances [OR]: 1.22; intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC95%]: 1.09 a 1.37) e falha de contraceptivo (OR: 3.4; IC95%: 1.32 a 8.71). Conclusão Maior idade gestacional e falha de contraceptivo estiveram associados à maior prevalência de complicações. As informações obtidas pela rede de vigilância podem ser usadas para melhorar o cuidado, particularmente nas mulheres mais suscetíveis a desfechos desfavoráveis.

Post-abortion contraception before hospital discharge after installation of a surveillance network in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of contraception soon after abortion, ectopic, or molar pregnancy following the establishment of a surveillance network (MUSA). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of women admitted for abortion, or ectopic or molar pregnancy at UNICAMP Women's Hospital (part of the MUSA Network), Campinas, Brazil, between July 2017 and August 2019. Clinical and sociodemographic data were compared between women who initiated contraception before discharge and those who did not by using a Cochran-Armitage test and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall, 382 women were enrolled (mean ± SD age, 29.6 ± 7.4 years). Most women (287, 75.2%) had abortions, and 146 (38.2%) initiated contraception before hospital discharge. The most common contraceptives were injectables (75, 51.4%) followed by pills (65, 44.5%). Use of contraception increased during the study period (Z=3.69, P<0.01), mostly due to injectables (Z=3.84, P<0.01). Factors independently associated with contraceptive initiation were admission in 2019 (odds ratio [OR], 2.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36-5.17) and not having an abortion for legal reasons (OR, 3.54; 95% CI, 1.30-9.62). CONCLUSION: Implementation of a surveillance network optimized the health service and quality of care. There was an increase in contraception use and a vulnerable population was identified.