COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact on Obstetric Services and Outcome: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective To determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and service modification on obstetric outcomes. Design: Single centre retrospective study Setting: Royal Bolton Hospital, United Kingdom. Population or Sample: Obstetric population in the prepandemic and pandemic periods. Methods Data on Obstetric services and pregnancy outcomes of women during the pandemic was compared to those of women prior to the pandemic and introduction of service modification. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, with data comparison between both groups done using nonparametric Chi-square test. Main Outcome Measures: Comparable perinatal and maternal outcomes. Results There was no significant difference in the induction of labour rates (38.8% pre-pandemic vs 38.3% pandemic, p= 0.78), use of epidural anaesthesia in labour (13.2% prepandemic vs 15.9% pandemic, p= 0.06), instrumental deliveries (13.0% prepandemic vs 12.3% pandemic, p= 0.56) and caesarean sections (28.9% prepandemic vs 31.7% pandemic, p= 0.09). There was significant reduction in the use of general anaesthesia for caesarean sections (8.9% vs 4.9%, p= 0.03) as well as antenatal admissions during the pandemic (23.9% vs 18.5%, p= <0.0001). The number of antenatal growth scans performed during the pandemic was significantly increased (18.5% vs 20.1%, p= <0.003). The perinatal outcome in both periods are comparable, with no significant difference in the rates of preterm birth, stillbirth, early neonatal deaths and neonatal unit admissions. Conclusions Despite changes in obstetric care following the pandemic, pregnant women were able to access care with no significant adverse impact on obstetric outcomes.