Publication:

Study of mode of delivery and maternal morbidity in preterm and term COVID-19 positive pregnant women

Background Pregnant women are likely to represent a high-risk population during current coronavirus 2019 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. The aim and objective of this study was to evaluate how COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mode of delivery and whether complications of the disease and mortality rate are higher in pregnant women than in non‐pregnant women.

Methods This ambispective observational study was conducted in department of obstetrics and gynaecology of our institute. Pregnant women diagnosed with positive for COVID-19 via the SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test in the third trimester and all neonates with complete COVID-19 testing and delivery data. This data was analysed.

Results Out of total 66 cases studied, 48 patients (72.7%) were asymptomatic, while 13 (19.7%) had mild respiratory or gastro intestinal symptoms on initial assessment at admission, including cough, sore throat, fever, weakness or diarrhoea. Cesarean sections were performed in 57.6% of cases. There were no cases of maternal or neonatal mortality.

Conclusions The study revealed that COVID-19 positive pregnant women are usually asymptomatic or mild-moderately symptomatic, similar to COVID-19 positive non-pregnant women. There was a noted rise in the rate of caesarean sections as a mode of delivery.