COVID-19 lockdowns affected birthing outcomes in a regional New South Wales Health District

INTRODUCTION: The 400 000 residents of the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) experienced two distinct lockdowns aimed at mitigating the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Analysing effects of these lockdowns on maternal and neonatal outcomes presents a valuable opportunity to assess the impact of pandemic-level restrictions on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

AIM: Evaluate the impacts of restrictions from two lockdown periods on maternal, birthing, and neonatal outcomes within a regional local health district.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 22 166 women who gave birth within ISLHD between 2017 and 2022. Groups included for analysis: Control Group - mothers pregnant before the pandemic (conception before 3 April 2019); Exposure Group 1 - mothers pregnant during the first lockdown (conception date 22 January 2020 to 5 May 2020); and Exposure Group 2 - mothers pregnant during the second lockdown (conception date 30 April 2021 to 13 Sep 2021).

RESULTS: Odds of adverse birthing outcomes including non-reassuring fetal status (odds ratio (OR) 1.34; 95% CI 1.14-1.56 and OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.03-1.40), and postpartum haemorrhage (OR 2.04; 95% CI 1.73-2.41 and OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.48-2.05) were substantially increased in Exposure Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, low birth weight and admission to neonatal intensive care rates improved.

CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women exposed to pandemic restrictions within ISLHD had decreased odds of adverse antenatal and neonatal outcomes, but increased odds of poor peripartum outcomes.