Comparison of pregnancy outcome during pandemic of COVID-19 and non-pandemic situations, Yazd, Iran, in 2019–2020

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the pregnancy outcomes during pandemic and non-pandemic COVID-19 in women referred to health service centres in Yazd. This descriptive study was performed based on the information obtained from all pregnant women referred to comprehensive health service centres in Yazd city using census method, between March 21 2019 and December 21 2019 and between March 20 2020 and December 20 2020. The pregnant mothers' information, including their pregnancy outcome, and maternal and neonatal complications, was extracted from the electronic health information system of Yazd city. The obtained data were analysed by Chi-Square test. No significant difference was found between non-pandemic and pandemic COVID-19 situations in most variables. As well, maternal and neonatal death were equally observed in both non-pandemic and pandemic COVID-19 situations. Wanted pregnancy, post term birth, multiple pregnancy and caesarean section rates were found to be higher in pandemic than non-pandemic COVID-19 (p<.001). Reported abortion, screening for foetal anueploidy in the first and second trimesters as well as the number of episodes of prenatal care during COVID-19 pandemic were significantly lower than those of non-pandemic period (p<.001). The outcome of pregnancy during the pandemic was not significantly different from that of non-pandemic situation.

Impact Statement

• What is already known on this subject? Studies already showed COVID-19 in pregnancy alter the maternal and neonatal outcomes in different degrees compared with pregnant individuals without COVID-19. However, it is not clear that pregnancy outcome dose alter during pandemic of COVID-19 compared to non-pandemic situations in general population?

• What do the results of this study add? The results of this study revealed that the outcome of pregnancy during pandemic was not significantly different from that of non-pandemic situation.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? According to results of this study, we can ensure pregnant women in the situation of pandemic COVID-19 that they are not in greater risk. We suggest future research should be done for comparison of pregnancy outcome in the situation of delta variant pandemic with non-pandemic COVID-19.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• pregnancy outcome
• birth
• Iran

Acknowledgements

We thank all comprehensive health centers in Yazd city who assisted us to extract data from SIB system.

Author contributions

The first author had the major role in planning, conduct and manuscript writing.

The second author had main role in design and planning and cooperated in manuscript writing.

The third author cooperated in planning and manuscript writing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work is funded by Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences.