Covid-19 has led a massive increase in stillbirth, maternal mortality and depression globally, says an article published in CNN health.
Reviews of The Lancet on the Covid impact
According to the reviews published in The Lancet, stillbirths and maternal deaths increased by nearly a third, as recorded by 40 studies that covered 17 countries.
The study found that the number of women who reported symptoms of depression along with maternal anxiety increased, according to six of the 10 studies the researchers evaluated.
There was a nearly sixfold increase in ectopic pregnancies between January of 2020 and January 2021, which when remained untreated can cause life-threatening bleeding.
Researchers at University of London
The researchers at St. George University of London says that the main reason for the increase in these conditions is the lack of access to medical care.
They assumed that women are reluctant to visit hospitals as they are occupied with covid patients which might expose them to Covid-19.
“It is clear from our study and others that the disruption caused by the pandemic has led to the avoidable deaths of both mothers and babies, especially in low- and middle-income countries,” said Dr. Asma Khalil, lead author at University of London.
Dr. Erkan Kalafat on preterm birth
Dr. Erkan Kalafat, a co-author of the study from Koc University in Turkey, says that the cause of preterm birth is still unidentified.
“We have an unprecedented opportunity to learn from the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic to plan for a future of inclusive and equitable maternity care worldwide,” Kalafat said.
Covid problems in countries similar to those caused by Ebola
Dr. Denise Jamieson, a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Covid OB Expert Work Group says that scientists saw a similar pattern of problems in countries that were impacted by the Ebola epidemic that started in 2013.
Jamieson said, “This is a pattern we’ve seen before. When you have an infectious disease that consumes a lot of healthcare resources and affects large segments of the population, maternal and infant health suffer.”
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Source : CNN Health
