Study: COVID-19 during pregnancy is linked with preterm birth

Recently, a study was published in “The Lancet Regional Health-Americas” on impact of covid-19 on pregnancy. According to the study, covid-19 during pregnancy is linked with preterm birth.

Key findings

• Risk of the preterm birth, that occurs at less than 32 weeks of gestation, was 60 per cent higher for people infected with COVID-19.
• According to it, risk of giving birth at less than 37 weeks was 40 per cent higher in people infected with the covid-19.
• Risk of preterm birth increased to 160 percent among those who were suffering from hypertension, diabetes and/or obesity besides COVID-19.
• Data also reflects both existing disparities in preterm birth rates for Black, Indigenous and other people of colour (BIPOC) as compared to whites.
• According to it, Latinx, American Indian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander people and people with public insurance had higher COVID-19 rates during pregnancy.

Why preterm birth is a concern?

because, Preterm birth is linked with several challenging outcomes for pregnant people and babies. Preterm births also carry highest risk of infant complications.

Covid-19 vaccine and pregnancy

Pregnant people have several concerns regarding the vaccines and health of their baby. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) on July 30, issued updated guidance and strongly recommended pregnant individuals to get vaccinated against COVID-19. According to US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnant people are a high-risk population for COVID-19. Despite that, less than a quarter have received at least one dose of vaccine.

Births amid covid-19

Out of 240,157 recorded births, some 9000 indicated a COVID-19 diagnosis in pregnancy. Preterm birth rate among birthing people diagnosed with Covid-19 was 11.8 per cent as compared to 8.7 per cent among those without Covid-19.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2021