Implications of COVID-19 for obstetric and neonatal outcomes^a

Abstract

Objective  To analyze the implications of COVID-19 on obstetric and neonatal outcomes among hospitalized pregnant women.

Method  This retrospective, documentary, and analytical cohort study was conducted at a hospital in southern Brazil. The study population consisted of 126 pregnant women admitted between 2020 and 2022. Data were collected from April to June 2023 using epidemiological bulletins and electronic medical records and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software.

Results  The pregnant women had a gestational age of ≥37 weeks (50.4%), obesity (22.2%), and chronic hypertension (19.0%). Emergency cesarean sections occurred in 43.7% of cases, and only 27% of them were vaccinated. Mechanical ventilation was required in 10.3% of cases, and 4.8% of them were admitted to the intensive care unit. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome was associated with prematurity and reduced skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding in the first hour of life.

Conclusion and implications for practice  Pregnant women are a vulnerable group to the implications of COVID-19, which can have negative effects on obstetric and neonatal outcomes. Prevention and adequate monitoring are the main implications for practice when infection occurs.

Keywords:
COVID-19; Pregnancy; Hospitalization; Newborn. SARS-CoV-2