A recent JAMA Network Open study determines whether the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic influenced the increase of neonatal mortality in the United States. Study: Social Distancing During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Neonatal Mortality in the US . Image Credit: Jessica Montgomery / Shutterstock.
com How did the pandemic affect prenatal care? The COVID-19 pandemic, which was caused by the rapid transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), led to millions of deaths worldwide. To mitigate the effects of the global pandemic, many countries throughout the world implemented regional and national lockdowns, restrictions on public gatherings, stay-at-home restrictions, school and workplace closures, social distancing, mandatory facemasks, and travel restrictions. Although these strategies reduced the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, they were associated with unanticipated effects, such as reduced healthcare accessibility and utilization, even for people with serious illnesses.
Pregnancy complications increase the risk of neonatal morbidity and preterm delivery. Moreover, pregnant women experienced significant challenges in assessing healthcare facilities during the pandemic. Thus, reduced access to antenatal and perinatal care during the pandemic may have resulted in increased neonatal mortality.
Many studies examining the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on perinatal, neonatal, and infant outcomes reported inconsistent findings. To date, no s.