SARS-CoV-2 prevalence, maternal and perinatal outcomes among pregnant women admitted for delivery: Experience from Covid-19 dedicated maternity hospital in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir (India).

BACKGROUND: Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women and their neonates is exotic area of research now a days. Till date, there is limited knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 prevalence, maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnant women at term in middle and low income countries.

METHODS: In present retro-prospective study, medical records of pregnant women admitted for delivery were reviewed from the largest Covid-19 dedicated Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) maternity hospital. SARS-CoV-2 screening was carried out for all pregnant women admitted for delivery using RT-PCR. All neonates born from SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers were isolated and tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

RESULTS: Most of pregnant women (90.6%) were asymptomatic at the time of admission with low prevalence (3.4%) of SARS-CoV-2. Higher rate of asymptomatic prevalence (86.1%) was found among SARS-CoV-2 positive pregnant women.On the basis of the RT-PCR result (negative vs. positive), statistically significant differences were found for maternal characteristics such as Mean gestational age (37.5 ± 2.2 vs. 36.6 ± 3.3), Medical comorbidity (2.9% vs. 7.4%), and Maternal outcomes such as the C-section rate (29.8% vs. 58.3%), Preterm delivery (14.6% vs. 28.3), and neonatal outcomes such as Mean Birth weight (2840±450 vs. 2600± 600), Low Apgar score (2.7% vs 6.48%), Fetal distress (10.9% vs 22.2 %) among SARS-CoV-2 negative cases and SARS-CoV-2 positives respectively. No neonate from SARS-CoV-2 positive pregnant women was found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 infection has deleterious effects on maternal characteristics, obstetric complications, maternal and perinatal outcomes along in pregnant women admitted for delivery. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.