Stillbirths, maternal deaths up by one-third amid pandemic: study
Fox News
Overwhelmed health systems and less access to care during the coronavirus pandemic worsened birth outcomes for expectant mothers and newborns around the world, an analysis of dozens of studies suggests.
Findings indicated "significant increases" in stillbirths and maternal deaths by about one-third during the pandemic, though the rate of overall preterm births remained about the same compared to pre-pandemic life. More specifically, researchers cited a 28% uptick in stillbirths, noting 1,099 stillbirths per 168,295 pregnancies during the pandemic, compared to pre-pandemic rates at 1,325 stillbirths per 198,993 pregnancies. Maternal deaths occurred at reported rates of 530 per 1,237,018 pregnancies during the pandemic, compared to 698 per 2,224,859 pregnancies pre-pandemic. The team also reported a decline in mothers’ mental health like heightened depression and anxiety, and additional findings indicated a six-fold uptick in surgeries relating to ectopic pregnancies (occurring outside of the uterus), suggesting women delayed medical care.More Related News