Antenatal visits and obstetric outcomes during nationwide COVID-19 lock down period in a tertiary hospital of Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Maternity services were disrupted during nationwide COVID-19 lock down period. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of nationwide COVID-19 lock down on antenatal visits and obstetric outcomes in a tertiary hospital of Nepal.

Method: A study was conducted at Patan hospital, Nepal with regard to antenatal visits and obstetric outcomes during COVID-19 lockdown period (24^th March to 14^th June 2020) and was compared to non COVID-19 period (24^th March to 14^th June 2019). A Chi-square test was used to determine the association between the outcome variables. The data was taken as statistically significant when the p-value was <0.05.

Result: A total of 4,157pregnant women visited antenatal clinic (ANC) during nationwide COVID-19 lock down period while 7,029 patients visited during same period a y back (non COVID-19 period) which is a 40.86 percentage decline. There was significant reduction in deliveries during COVID-19 lock down period (1604 during non COVID-19 and 1140 deliveries during COVID-19 lockdown period respectively) but mode of delivery was similar. Maternal complications like postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), intensive care stay (ICU), sepsis and cesarean hysterectomy were similar during both the period.

There was a significant reduction in preterm deliveries during COVID-19 lock down period (13 during non COVID-19and 8.7 percentage during COVID-19 period respectively). However, early neonatal sepsis (EONS) was significantly higher during COVID-19 lock down period.

Conclusion: While, there was a significant reduction in preterm births and increase in early neonatal sepsis during COVID-19 lockdown period, there was no difference in maternal outcome.