Redesigning routine antenatal care in low resource setting during COVID-19 pandemic

Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on the Incidence of No Prenatal Care

This study aimed to examine the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the racial disparity in prenatal care utilization in the United States before and during the pandemic.This was a cross-sectional study using the National Vital Statistics Data from 2018 to 2022. Our focus was on low-risk individuals who delivered singleton pregnancies at term. The analysis was restricted to Black and White individuals to explore racial disparities. The study periods based on the last menstrual period (LMP) were prepandemic (March 2018-February 2020) and pandemic (March 2020-February 2022). The primary outcome was the rate of no prenatal care. We employed interrupted time series analysis, negative binomial regression models, adjusting for confounders, seasonality, and autocorrelation. We conducted postestimation analyses to calculate the counterfactual and actual incidences of outcomes for individuals with an LMP in March 2020 and February 2022. Difference-in-difference (DID) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) was estimated.The analysis included 3,511,813 individuals in the prepandemic period and 5,163,486 in the pandemic period. For individuals with LMP in March 2020, the actual incidences of no prenatal care per 100 births were 3.2 (95% CI: 3.0, 3.3) for Black individuals and 1.6 (95% CI: 1.2, 2.0) for White individuals. The difference between counterfactual and actual no prenatal care rates per 100 births for Black individuals was 0.4 (95% CI: 0.2, 0.5), indicating a significant increase in no prenatal care. Conversely, there was no significant difference for White individuals. DID analysis further demonstrated that this increase was greater in Black individuals compared with White individuals (DID per 100 births 0.3 [95% CI: 0.1, 0.5]). For individuals with LMP in February 2022, this difference in disparity further worsened (DID per 100 births 0.8 [95% CI: 0.4, 1.2]).The COVID-19 pandemic increased the incidence of no prenatal care, which disproportionately affected Black individuals. · The COVID-19 pandemic increased racial disparities.. · The increase in no prenatal care among Black individuals.. · White individuals are lower affected during this period..

COVID-19 status and utilisation of essential maternal and child healthcare services during the pandemic in Ahmedabad, India

BACKGROUND

Access to essential healthcare services is pertinent to the achievement of universal health coverage in any nation. The COVID-19 lockdown was used to mitigate the spread of the pandemic. Consequently, there was a reduction in the Utilisation of Basic Healthcare Services (UBHS) in diverse dimensions. However, variation existed in the UBHS by COVID-19 status, but the extent of this disparity has not been extensively addressed in Ahmedabad, India. Therefore, this study explores the relationship between COVID-19 status and utilisation of essential maternal and child healthcare services during the pandemic in Ahmedabad, India.

METHODS

A mixed-method approach was used for the data (both quantitative and qualitative) collection from November 2021 to October 2022. Four zones were purposefully selected from the 6 zones in Ahmedabad. The quantitative part of the study included pregnant women or those who had a baby delivery from April 2020 to October 2021 (n = 278), while 10 of these women participated in the qualitative part. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and binomial logistic regression (α = 0.05). A deductive approach was used to analyse the qualitative data.

RESULTS

Of the total 278, almost 43% of the women were infected with COVID-19 during their pregnancy. Women who tested positive availed lesser antenatal care (ANC), and Postnatal care (PNC). There were diverse experiences documented regarding access to essential maternal and child healthcare services during the pandemic. Women without COVID-19 are more likely to receive maternal healthcare services, such as visits of any healthcare workers [aOR = 2.59 (1.03- 6.49)], counseling services [aOR = 1.92 (0.61- 6.06)], delivery at the planned place [aOR = 1.98 (0.99- 3.92)] as compared to those who are positive. Women without COVID-19 were more likely to be accompanied by healthcare workers during labor ([aOR = 2.91(1.04- 8.11) and to receive appropriate birth spacing counselling [aOR = 1.38 (0.7-2.71)].

CONCLUSION

Utilisation of essential maternal and child healthcare services was lower among women who were COVID-19 positive compared to those who were not. Social and health system determinants for disrupting healthcare services during the pandemic were fear of infection and unavailability of the health workforce. Health planners and policymakers are encouraged to take into consideration of these findings while building resilient health care for managing future pandemics.

COVID-19 pandemic, pregnancy care, perinatal outcomes in Eastern Myanmar and North-Western Thailand: a retrospective marginalised population cohort

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine health care and antenatal and birth services globally. The Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU) based at the Thailand-Myanmar border provides cross border antenatal care (ANC) and birth services to marginalised pregnant women. The border between the countries entered lockdown in March 2020 preventing cross-border access for women from Myanmar to Thailand. SMRU adapted by opening a new clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar. This study explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and response on access to ANC and pregnancy outcomes for marginalised pregnant women in the border regions between Thailand and Myanmar.

METHODS

A retrospective review of medical records of all pregnancies delivered or followed at antenatal clinics of the SMRU from 2017 to the end of 2022. Logistic regression was done to compare the odds of maternal and neonatal outcomes between women who delivered pre-COVID (2017-2019) and women who delivered in the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022), grouped by reported country of residence: Thailand or Myanmar.

RESULTS

Between 2017 and the end of 2022, there were 13,865 (5,576 resident in Thailand and 8,276 in Myanmar) marginalised pregnant women who followed ANC or gave birth at SMRU clinics. Outcomes of pregnancy were known for 9,748 women with an EGA ≥ 28 weeks. Unknown outcome of pregnancy among women living in Thailand did not increase during the pandemic. However, there was a high (60%) but transient increase in unknown outcome of pregnancy for women with Myanmar residence in March 2020 following border closure and decreasing back to the baseline of 20-30% after establishment of a new clinic. Non-literate women were more likely to have an unknown outcome during the pandemic. There was no statistically significant increase in known stillbirths or maternal deaths during the COVID pandemic in this population but homebirth was over represented in maternal and perinatal mortality.

CONCLUSION

Decreasing barriers to healthcare for marginalised pregnant women on the Thailand-Myanmar border by establishment of a new clinic was possible in response to sudden border closure during the COVID-19 pandemic and most likely preventing an increase in maternal and perinatal mortality.

Integration of Telehealth in Routine Perinatal Care: A Model of Care for Primary Healthcare Clinics in Saudi Arabia

This study aims to introduce a new model of antenatal/postnatal care that integrates virtual clinics with the current model of care, including a discussion on the current model, pre-existing barriers, and prenatal framework, and the need for transition to telehealth beyond the pandemic. In antenatal primary health care centers, such as King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), low-risk antenatal/postnatal care receives clinical care through complete physical attendance in antenatal/postnatal clinics in primary care clinics for pregnancy follow-up and in tertiary hospitals for fetal ultrasound and invasive procedures if needed. Pregnancy is confirmed through a regular family medicine (FM) clinic where risk assessment through history, physical examination, and investigations are carried out. If the pregnant woman is at low risk, she will be started on folic acid, 1 mg or 5 mg based on the risk assessment (if it was not received before). Pregnant women will be given a telehealth appointment for the lab results. Concomitantly, the pregnant women will receive an appointment in the antenatal clinics, which board-certified family physicians run. High-risk patients will be referred to the hospital for further care. Current postnatal care is delivered through regular booking with the FM clinic through physical attendance sometimes, and virtual care is provided upon physican/patient request. Current care meets the past quality care and patient expectations. However, with the current Saudi Vision 2030 and after the experience with virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic, the current services need to move a step forward to meet the rapidly developing medical care/needs in Saudi Arabia. Various challenges must be addressed, and new models must be included in clinical care for pregnant and postnatal women. Introducing virtual antenatal/postnatal care to the current care could be a new era in maternity primary health care; this model will move the clinical care provided to pregnant/postnatal women a step forward that meets the excellence of high-quality, evidence-based medical care.

The Godmother Project: A Virtual Initiative to Support Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Brazil During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic increased maternal distress and demand for social support and educational services, while restriction measures decreased the availability of these services.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The Godmother Project, a person-centered, WhatsApp-based support and health education initiative, was created after all in-person perinatal educational activities offered at 3 Brazilian hospitals were canceled in 2020. The project was developed in response to pregnant/postpartum women who called the hospitals with questions for health care professionals (HCPs). Health education nurses teamed up with staff from the communication department to design a project to (1) provide a direct communication channel between women and HCPs to answer health-related questions, (2) offer reliable virtual health education material, (3) identify women in need of additional assessment/referrals, (4) offer each woman continuous support from a specific nurse educator (Godmother), and (5) offer a virtual forum where women going through similar experiences could interact.

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND ROLLOUT

The project provides direct communication between WhatsApp groups of 25-30 pregnant/postpartum women and a Godmother. It also offers access to a virtual library of educational materials prepared in response to women's needs/demands. The project, which began in July 2020 with 1 WhatsApp group of 5 women and 1 Godmother, currently has 305 groups, 6,942 active participants, and 4 Godmothers. Enrollments and WhatsApp groups continued to increase despite reestablishment of in-person educational activities in 2022. The vast majority of 232 participants surveyed in December 2021 were very satisfied with the project, the Godmothers, and the educational materials.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that WhatsApp groups of pregnant/postpartum women led by dedicated nurse educators can be an important tool to educate and support women during the perinatal period. This type of initiative may be especially important in contexts of physical distancing requirements or situations where social support is unavailable.

Irregular Antenatal Care Attendance among Pregnant Women during COVID-19 Pandemic in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has made access to antenatal care services difficult, which could lead to serious implications for the health of mothers and fetus. There is limited study regarding its impact on pregnant women. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of irregular antenatal care attendance among pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary care centre.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among pregnant women attending antenatal care visits at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics in a tertiary care centre from 23 July 2021 to 5 September 2021. Ethical approval was granted by the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 077/078/67). Convenience sampling was done. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated.

RESULTS

Among 196 pregnant women, 49 (25%) (18.96-31.06, 95% Confidence Interval) had irregular antenatal care attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of irregular antenatal care attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic was lower than other studies done in similar settings. Antenatal care is crucial to prevent maternal, fetal morbidity and mortality, hence uninterrupted antenatal care services should be provided even during crisis situation like COVID-19 pandemics.

Effects of COVID-19 pandemic period on neonatal mortality and morbidity

BACKGROUND

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnant women has important impacts on perinatal and neonatal outcomes. However, there are a limited number of studies investigating the effect of the pandemic period on newborns. With this study, we aimed to determine the impact of the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak on prenatal care, obstetric outcomes, neonatal mortality and morbidity.

METHODS

The retrospective results of patients hospitalized to the Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between 1 March and 30 May 2020, the first peak period of the pandemic in our country, were compared with the data of the same period of the previous year.

RESULTS

A total of 307 cases were included in our study. The mean gestational weeks of the neonates hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during the COVID-19 period were higher than those in the control group (p: 0.003). During the pandemic period, an increase was found in the frequency of pregnant women presenting to obstetric emergency services in emergencies requiring acute intervention (p: 0.01). Compared to the control group, there was an increase in the number of infants with small for gestational age (SGA) diagnosis, 5th-minute Apgar score of <7, and newborns with a diagnosis of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy who were treated with hypothermia in the study group (p < 0.05). No difference was found in terms of maternal and neonatal mortality (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was shown that pregnant women disrupted their regular antenatal care, and more pregnant women were admitted to the obstetric emergency department with emergencies requiring acute intervention. This led to an increase in the number of cases diagnosed with SGA and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in newborns. Our results will be useful for better management of current and future pandemic periods.

Analysis of Facilitators and Barriers to the Delivery of Routine Care during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic: A Systematic Review

The delivery of routine health care during the COVID-19 global pandemic continues to be challenged as public health guidelines and other local/regional/state and other policies are enforced to help prevent the spread of the virus. The objective of this systematic review is to identify the facilitators and barriers affecting the delivery of routine health care services during the pandemic to provide a framework for future research. In total, 32 articles were identified for common themes surrounding facilitators of routine care during COVID-19. Identified constructed in the literature include enhanced education initiatives for parents/patients regarding routine vaccinations, an importance of routine vaccinations as compared to the risk of COVID-19 infection, an enhanced use of telehealth resources (including diagnostic imagery) and identified patient throughput/PPE initiatives. Reviewers identified the following barriers to the delivery of routine care: conservation of medical providers and PPE for non-routine (acute) care delivery needs, specific routine care services incongruent the telehealth care delivery methods, and job-loss/food insecurity. Review results can assist healthcare organizations with process-related challenges related to current and/or future delivery of routine care and support future research initiatives as the global pandemic continues.