Maternal mortality: protocol of a study integrated to the Birth in Brazil II survey. / Mortalidade materna: protocolo de um estudo integrado à pesquisa Nascer no Brasil II.

The Maternal Mortality Study conducts a hospital investigation of maternal deaths that occurred in 2020/2021 in the maternity hospitals sampled by the Birth in Brazil II survey, with the following objectives: estimate the maternal mortality underreporting; calculate a correction factor and the corrected (MMR); validate the causes of maternal mortality reported in the death certificate (DC); and analyze the factors associated with maternal mortality. The Birth in Brazil II includes approximately 24,250 puerperal women distributed in 465 public, private, and mixed hospitals with ≥ 100 live births/year in the five macroregions of Brazil. The Maternal Mortality Study data will be completed using the same Birth in Brazil II questionnaire, from the consultation of hospital records. Trained obstetricians will fill out a new DC (redone DC) from independent analysis of this questionnaire, comparing it to official data. The database of the investigated deaths will be related to the deaths listed in the Mortality Information System of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, allowing the estimation of underreporting and calculation of the corrected MMR. To calculate the reliability of the causes of death, the kappa test and prevalence-adjusted kappa with 95% confidence interval will be used. A case-control study to estimate the risk factors for maternal mortality will be developed with the investigated deaths (cases) and the controls obtained in the Birth in Brazil II survey, using conditional multiple logistic regression models. We expect this research to contribute to the correction of the underreporting of maternal mortality and to a better understanding of the determinants of the persistence of a high MMR in Brazil.

O Estudo da Mortalidade Materna conduz uma investigação hospitalar dos óbitos maternos ocorridos em 2020/2021 nas maternidades amostradas na pesquisa Nascer no Brasil II, com os seguintes objetivos: estimar o sub-registro da mortalidade materna e calcular um fator de correção e a razão de mortalidade materna (RMM) corrigida; validar as causas de mortalidade materna informadas na declaração de óbito (DO); e analisar os fatores associados à mortalidade materna. O Nascer no Brasil II inclui aproximadamente 24.255 puérperas distribuídas em 465 hospitais públicos, privados e mistos com ≥ 100 partos de nascidos vivos/ano nas cinco macrorregiões do país. Os dados do Estudo da Mortalidade Materna serão preenchidos utilizando o mesmo questionário do Nascer no Brasil II, a partir da consulta aos prontuários hospitalares. Obstetras treinados preencherão uma nova DO (DO refeita) a partir de análise independente desse questionário, comparando aos dados oficiais. A base de dados dos óbitos investigados será relacionada com os óbitos constantes no Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade do Ministério da Saúde, permitindo a estimativa do sub-registro e cálculo da RMM corrigida. Para o cálculo da confiabilidade das causas de morte, serão utilizados os testes kappa e kappa ajustado à prevalência com intervalo de 95% de confiança. Um estudo de caso-controle para estimar os fatores de risco para mortalidade materna será desenvolvido com os óbitos investigados (casos) e os controles obtidos na pesquisa Nascer no Brasil II, utilizando-se modelos de regressão logística múltipla condicional. Espera-se contribuir para a correção do sub-registro da mortalidade materna e para a melhor compreensão dos fatores determinantes da persistência de RMM elevada no Brasil.

El Estudio de Mortalidad Materna evalúa las muertes maternas ocurridas en 2020-2021 en las muestras de maternidades del encuesta Nacer en Brasil II con los objetivos de estimar el subregistro de mortalidad materna y calcular el factor de corrección y la tasa de mortalidad materna corregida (TMM); validar las causas de mortalidad materna reportadas en el certificado de defunción (CD); y analizar los factores asociados a la mortalidad materna. La Nacer en Brasil II incluye aproximadamente 24.250 mujeres puerperales, distribuidas en 465 hospitales públicos, privados y mixtos con ≥ 100 nacidos vivos/año en las cinco macrorregiones de Brasil. Los datos de Estudio de Mortalidad Materna se completarán con la información del cuestionario Nacer en Brasil II a partir de una búsqueda de los registros médicos hospitalarios. Los obstetras capacitados completarán un nuevo CD (CD rehecho) desde un análisis independiente de este cuestionario, comparándolo con los datos oficiales. La base de datos de muertes investigadas se relacionará con las muertes que constan en el Sistema de Informaciones sobre la Mortalidad del Ministerio de Salud para permitir la estimación del subregistro y el cálculo de la TMM corregida. Para calcular la exactitud de las causas de muerte, se utilizarán las pruebas kappa y kappa ajustada a la prevalencia con un intervalo de 95% de confianza. Un estudio de casos y controles se aplicará para estimar los factores de riesgo de las mortalidad materna con las muertes investigadas (casos) y los controles obtenidos en el estudio Nacer en Brasil II utilizando modelos de regresión logística múltiple condicional. Se espera que este estudio pueda contribuir a la corrección del subregistro de la mortalidad materna y a una mejor comprensión de los determinantes de la persistencia de alta TMM en Brasil.

Navigating geographical disparities: access to obstetric hospitals in maternity care deserts and across the United States.

BACKGROUND: Access to maternity care in the U.S. remains inequitable, impacting over two million women in maternity care "deserts." Living in these areas, exacerbated by hospital closures and workforce shortages, heightens the risks of pregnancy-related complications, particularly in rural regions. This study investigates travel distances and time to obstetric hospitals, emphasizing disparities faced by those in maternity care deserts and rural areas, while also exploring variances across races and ethnicities. METHODS: The research adopted a retrospective secondary data analysis, utilizing the American Hospital Association and Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Provider of Services Files to classify obstetric hospitals. The study population included census tract estimates of birthing individuals sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2017-2021 American Community Survey. Using ArcGIS Pro Network Analyst, drive time and distance calculations to the nearest obstetric hospital were conducted. Furthermore, Hot Spot Analysis was employed to identify areas displaying significant spatial clusters of high and low travel distances. RESULTS: The mean travel distance and time to the nearest obstetric facility was 8.3 miles and 14.1 minutes. The mean travel distance for maternity care deserts and rural counties was 28.1 and 17.3 miles, respectively. While birthing people living in rural maternity care deserts had the highest average travel distance overall (33.4 miles), those living in urban maternity care deserts also experienced inequities in travel distance (25.0 miles). States with hotspots indicating significantly higher travel distances included: Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Census tracts where the predominant race is American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) had the highest travel distance and time compared to those of all other predominant races/ethnicities. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed significant disparities in obstetric hospital access, especially affecting birthing individuals in maternity care deserts, rural counties, and communities predominantly composed of AIAN individuals, resulting in extended travel distances and times. To rectify these inequities, sustained investment in the obstetric workforce and implementation of innovative programs are imperative, specifically targeting improved access in maternity care deserts as a priority area within healthcare policy and practice.

Status of the midwifery workforce and childbirth services and the impact of midwife staffing on birth outcomes in China: a multicentre cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the status of the midwifery workforce and childbirth services in China and to identify the association between midwife staffing and childbirth outcomes. DESIGN: A descriptive, multicentre cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Maternity hospitals from the eastern, central and western regions of China. PARTICIPANTS: Stratified sampling of maternity hospitals between 1 July and 31 December 2021.The sample hospitals received a package of questionnaires, and the head midwives from the participating hospitals were invited to fill in the questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 180 hospitals were selected and investigated, staffed with 4159 midwives, 412 obstetric nurses and 1007 obstetricians at the labour and delivery units. The average efficiency index of annual midwifery services was 272 deliveries per midwife. In the sample hospitals, 44.9% of women had a caesarean delivery and 21.4% had an episiotomy. Improved midwife staffing was associated with reduced rates of instrumental vaginal delivery (adjusted ß -0.032, 95% CI -0.115 to -0.012, p<0.05) and episiotomy (adjusted ß -0.171, 95% CI -0.190 to -0.056, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The rates of childbirth interventions including the overall caesarean section in China and the episiotomy rate, especially in the central region, remain relatively high. Improved midwife staffing was associated with reduced rates of instrumental vaginal delivery and episiotomy, indicating that further investments in the midwifery workforce could produce better childbirth outcomes.

[Factors associated with breastfeeding at birth in maternity hospitals linked to the Rede Cegonha, Brazil, 2016-2017]. / Fatores associados ao aleitamento materno ao nascer em maternidades vinculadas à Rede Cegonha, Brasil, 2016-2017.

Breastfeeding (BF) is a human right, and it must start from birth. The adequacy of Rede Cegonha (RC) strategies can contribute to the promotion of BF. The objective was to identify factors associated with BF in the first and 24 hours of live births at full-term maternity hospitals linked to CR. Cross-sectional study with data from the second evaluation cycle 2016-2017 of the RC that covered all of Brazil. Odds ratios were obtained through binary logistic regression according to a hierarchical model, with 95% confidence intervals and p-value < 0.01. The prevalence of BF in the first hour was 31% and in the 24 hours 96.6%. The chances of BF in the first hour increased: presence of a companion during hospitalization, skin-to-skin contact, vaginal delivery, delivery assistance by a nurse and accreditation of the unit in the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. Similar results at 24 hours, and association with maternal age below 20 years. BF in the first hour was less satisfactory than in the 24 hours, probably due to the high prevalence of cesarean sections, a factor associated with a lower chance of early BF. Continuous training of professionals about BF and the presence of an obstetric nurse during childbirth are recommended to expand BF in the first hour.

O aleitamento materno (AM) é um direito humano e deve ser iniciado desde o nascimento. A adequação das estratégias da Rede Cegonha (RC) pode contribuir na promoção do AM. O objetivo foi identificar os fatores associados ao AM na primeira e nas 24 horas de nascidos vivos a termo em maternidades vinculadas à RC. Estudo transversal com dados do segundo ciclo avaliativo 2016-2017 da RC, que abrangeu todo o Brasil. Foram obtidas razões de chance por meio de regressão logística binária segundo modelo hierarquizado, com intervalos de confiança a 95% e p-valor < 0,01. A prevalência de AM na primeira hora foi de 31%, e nas 24 horas, de 96,6%. Aumentaram as chances de AM na primeira hora: presença de acompanhante na internação, contato pele a pele, parto vaginal, assistência ao parto por enfermeira e acreditação da unidade na Iniciativa Hospital Amigo da Criança. Resultados semelhantes nas 24 horas, e associação com idade materna inferior a 20 anos. O AM na primeira hora foi menos satisfatório do que nas 24h, provavelmente pela elevada prevalência de cesariana, fator associado à menor chance de AM precoce. A capacitação dos profissionais sobre AM de forma contínua e a presença de enfermeiro obstetra no parto são recomendadas para ampliar o AM na primeira hora.

'We felt like part of a production system': A qualitative study on women's experiences of mistreatment during childbirth in Switzerland.

INTRODUCTION: Mistreatment during childbirth is an issue of global magnitude that not only violates fundamental human rights but also seriously impacts women's well-being. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the phenomenon by exploring the individual experiences of women who reported mistreatment during childbirth in Switzerland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This project used a mixed methods approach to investigate women's experiences of mistreatment during childbirth in general and informal coercion specifically: The present qualitative study expands on the findings from a nationwide online survey on childbirth experience. It combines inductive with theoretical thematic analysis to study the 7,753 comments women wrote in the survey and the subsequent interviews with 11 women who reported being mistreated during childbirth. RESULTS: The women described a wide range of experiences of mistreatment during childbirth in both the survey comments and the interviews. Out of all survey participants who wrote at least one comment (n = 3,547), 28% described one or more experiences of mistreatment. Six of the seven types of mistreatment listed in Bohren and colleagues' typology of mistreatment during childbirth were found, the most frequent of which were ineffective communication and lack of informed consent. Five additional themes were identified in the interviews: Informal coercion, risk factors for mistreatment, consequences of mistreatment, examples of good care, and what's needed to improve maternity care. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study show that experiences of mistreatment are a reality in Swiss maternity care and give insight into women's individual experiences as well as how these affect them during and after childbirth. This study emphasises the need to respect women's autonomy in order to prevent mistreatment and empower women to actively participate in decisions. Both individual and systemic efforts are required to prevent mistreatment and guarantee respectful, dignified, and high-quality maternity care for all.

Informe epidemiológico de sífilis congénita en el Hospital Materno infantil Ramón Sardá de la CABA durante el trienio 2018-2020 / Epidemiological report of congenital syphilis at Ramón Sardá Maternal and Child Hospital of CABA during the 2018-2020 triennium

El hospital Materno Infantil Ramón Sardá, de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, es un centro perinatológico de alta complejidad del subsector público de salud, que asiste más de 5000 nacimientos por año. Es el hospital que reportó la mayor cantidad de casos de sífilis congénita en el período 2018-2019. El objetivo de este informe es caracterizar los casos asistidos durante el trienio 2018-2020.

Health profile of the patients with pre-eclampsia in a referral hospital in the Amazon region.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiological and clinical profile of the patients with preeclampsia in a hospital in the Amazon region. STUDY DESIGN: Observational descriptive cross-sectional study, performed at Fundação Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Pará, a maternity hospital in Pará, Brazil. The pregnant patients admitted between July 1st and December 31st 2018 due to pre-eclampsia had their medical records researched to describe their epidemiological profile, medical history, obstetric profile and clinical manifestations of pre-eclampsia. Patients with incomplete data were not included in the missing variable's rate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 3450 pregnant patients were admitted, and 381 of them due to pre-eclampsia, revealing a 11.04% prevalence. RESULTS: Both arithmetic mean and median of maternal age were approximately 27 years. 94.25% of the participants were parda. Regarding medical history, 50.27% had chronic hypertension, and 37.23% had urinary tract infection during pregnancy. The obstetric profile revealed that 42.26% were primigravid, and 30% of the multigravid participants had already manifested pregnancy hypertension. 78.1% of the participants attended less than 6 prenatal consultations, and 10.03% used chemical substances during pregnancy. Twin pregnancy had a 3.14% prevalence. Beyond hypertension and proteinuria, scotoma was the most frequent (28.57%) clinical manifestation. 2.36% of the patients developed seizures, mostly (55.55%) before 37 weeks of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The profile of the participants was mean age 27 years, parda race, with chronic hypertension, single fetus, multigravid without previous pregnancy hypertension, with less than 6 prenatal consultations, no use of chemical substances and without any manifestations of pre-eclampsia beyond hypertension and proteinuria.

SARS-CoV-2 infection among hospitalised pregnant women and impact of different viral strains on COVID-19 severity in Italy: a national prospective population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this article was to describe SARS-CoV-2 infection among pregnant women during the wild-type and Alpha-variant periods in Italy. The secondary aim was to compare the impact of the virus variants on the severity of maternal and perinatal outcomes. DESIGN: National population-based prospective cohort study. SETTING: A total of 315 Italian maternity hospitals. SAMPLE: A cohort of 3306 women with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days of hospital admission. METHODS: Cases were prospectively reported by trained clinicians for each participating maternity unit. Data were described by univariate and multivariate analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: COVID-19 pneumonia, ventilatory support, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mode of delivery, preterm birth, stillbirth, and maternal and neonatal mortality. RESULTS: We found that 64.3% of the cohort was asymptomatic, 12.8% developed COVID-19 pneumonia and 3.3% required ventilatory support and/or ICU admission. Maternal age of 30-34 years (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.09-1.87) and ≥35 years (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.23-2.13), citizenship of countries with high migration pressure (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.36-2.25), previous comorbidities (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.13-1.98) and obesity (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.29-2.27) were all associated with a higher occurrence of pneumonia. The preterm birth rate was 11.1%. In comparison with the pre-pandemic period, stillbirths and maternal and neonatal deaths remained stable. The need for ventilatory support and/or ICU admission among women with pneumonia increased during the Alpha-variant period compared with the wild-type period (OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.99-5.28). CONCLUSIONS: Our results are consistent with a low risk of severe COVID-19 disease among pregnant women and with rare adverse perinatal outcomes. During the Alpha-variant period there was a significant increase of severe COVID-19 illness. Further research is needed to describe the impact of different SARS-CoV-2 viral strains on maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Evidências e fatores associados ao fenômeno de adiamento da maternidade no Brasil / Evidence and factors associated with the maternity postponement phenomenon in Brazil / Evidencia y factores asociados al fenómeno de aplazamiento de la maternidad en Brasil

Este trabalho tem como objetivo contribuir com a literatura sobre o fenômeno do adiamento da maternidade no Brasil, bem como analisar seus principais fatores associados. A pesquisa aborda o período de 1992 a 2015, considerando as informações da Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios (PNAD), do IBGE, e a análise de sobrevivência que possibilita caracterizar aquelas mulheres com nascimentos de primeira ordem. Os resultados constatam uma tendência crescente da postergação da maternidade no Brasil e que aquelas com mais chances de adiar a maternidade são brancas, solteiras, residentes em áreas urbanas, metropolitanas e na região Sudeste. Ademais, foi possível identificar que, entre os principais fatores que contribuem para essa tendência, estão o investimento em capital humano e a participação no mercado de trabalho, preponderantes para o adiamento da maternidade.

This paper aims to contribute to the literature on the phenomenon of postponement of motherhood in Brazil, as well as to analyze its main associated factors. The research analyzes the period from 1992 to 2015, considering information from the National Household Sample Survey and the survival analysis that makes it possible to characterize those women who are surviving without children or postponing their first child. The results show a growing tendency in maternity postponement in Brazil and that those most likely to postpone motherhood are white, single, living in urban, metropolitan areas and in the Southeast region. In addition, it was possible to identify that among the main factors that contribute to this trend is investment in human capital and participation in the labor market, which are preponderant for the postponement of motherhood.

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo contribuir a la literatura sobre el fenómeno del aplazamiento de la maternidad en Brasil, así como analizar sus principales factores asociados. La investigación analiza el período 1992-2015, considerando la información de la Encuesta Nacional de Muestras de Hogares y el análisis de supervivencia que permite caracterizar a las mujeres que sobreviven sin hijos o posponen a su primer hijo. Los resultados muestran una tendencia creciente de posponer la maternidad en Brasil y que quienes tienen más probabilidades de posponer la maternidad son blancas y solteras, y viven en áreas urbanas, metropolitanas y en el sudeste. Además, fue posible identificar que entre los principales factores que contribuyen a esta tendencia se encuentra la inversión en capital humano y la participación en el mercado laboral, que son preponderantes para el aplazamiento de la maternidad.

Determinants of birthplace among middle-to lower-class women in Indonesia: A study using the Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: One of the factors contributing to a high maternal mortality rate is the utilization of non-healthcare facilities as a birthplace for women. This study analyzed determinants affecting birthplace in middle-to lower-class women in Indonesia. METHODS: This study analyzed the 2017 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) data. The total national sample size was 49,627 eligible women. Our sample included 11,104 women, aged 15-49, who had delivered babies and were of low-to-middle economic status. The type of survey dataset was individual record dataset. Data were analyzed with chi-square and multivariate logistic regression tests using Stata 16 software. RESULTS: About 64.99% middle to lower class women in Indonesia delivered in healthcare facilities. Women aged 45-49 (OR = 2.103; 95% CI = 1.13-3.93), who graduated from higher schools (OR = 2.885; 95% CI = 1.76-4.73), whose husbands had higher education (OR = 2.826; 95% CI = 1.69-4.74) and were employed (OR = 2.523; 95% CI = 1.23-5.17), who considered access to healthcare facilities was not a problem (OR = 1.528; 95% CI = 1.28-1.82), who had a single child (OR = 2.349; 95% CI = 1.97-2.80), and who lived in urban areas (OR = 2.930; 95% CI = 2.40-3.57) were determinants that significantly correlated with women giving birth in healthcare facilities. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights for policymakers and healthcare centers in the community to strengthen access to healthcare services and devise health promotion strategies for pregnant mothers. Policy interventions designed for middle- to lower-class women should be implemented to support vulnerable groups.

Prevalence of the five newborn screening tests.

Neonatal screening is essential for child health and has the following purposes: (1) pulse oximetry screening to evaluate congenital heart diseases; (2) red reflex examination to investigate eye diseases; (3) newborn hearing screening test to evaluate congenital hearing diseases; (4) tongue test to evaluate the lingual frenulum and identify communication and feeding problems; (5) the Guthrie test to screen for metabolic diseases. This study investigated the prevalence of the five neonatal screening tests and its associated institutional and socio-cultural factors using a cross-sectional study with 415 mother and baby binomials from public maternity hospitals in Natal, RN, Brazil in 2019. Pearson's chi-squared, Mann-Whitney and Poisson regression tests were used, with a significance of p ≤ 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. The sample loss was 71 mothers (17%). The prevalence in the first week and at the end of 28 days was 93% and 99.5% (pulse oximetry screening), 60% and 97.6% (red reflex examination), 71.9% and 93.6% (Guthrie test), 35.5% and 68.2% (hearing screening test), and 19% and 48.9% (tongue test). Only 152 newborns (36.6%) underwent all five tests. The performance of the tests was associated in the final model (p ≤ 0.05) with the residence of the mothers in the state capital (PR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.18-1.56) and the provision of guidance for mothers about the five tests in maternity hospitals (PR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.08-1.67). None of the tests met full coverage, and regional inequities were identified indicating the need to restructure the institutions, training and qualification procedures to improve of the work processes and longitudinal care.

Sepsis scoring systems and use of the Sepsis six care bundle in maternity hospitals.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the predictive power of three different Sepsis Scoring Systems (SSSs), namely maternity Systematic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (mSIRS), quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) and Modified Early Warning System (MEWS) in identifying sepsis by comparing them with positive culture. This study also sought to evaluate compliance with using the Sepsis Six Care Bundle (SSCB) operated in an individual health board. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 3 maternity hospitals of a single Scottish health board that admitted 2690 pregnancies in a 12 weeks period in 2016. Data for study was obtained from medical notes, handheld and electronic health records for women who were prescribed antibiotics with a confirmed or suspected diagnosis of sepsis. Data on clinical parameters was used to classify women according to mSIRS, qSOFA and MEWS as having sepsis or not and this was compared to results of positive culture to obtain sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and area under Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUROC) along with their 95% confidence intervals. Data was also obtained on SSCB compliance. RESULTS: A total of 89 women were diagnosed with sepsis, of which 14 had missing data, leaving 75 for final analysis. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and AUROC of mSIRS and MEWS were almost similar with AUROC of both being around 50%. Only 33 (37.1%) had identifiable sepsis six sticker displayed on medical notes and only 2 (2.2%) had all elements of SSCB delivered within the recommended one-hour post-diagnosis period. Blood culture and full blood count with other lab tests had been performed for most women (97%) followed by intravenous antibiotics and fluids (93.9%). CONCLUSIONS: mSIRS and MEWS were quite similar in detecting sepsis when compared to positive culture, with their ability to detect sepsis being close to chance. This underlines the need for creating a valid SSS with high sensitivity and specificity for clinical use in obstetric settings. Clinical use of SSCB was limited despite it being a health board policy, although there is considerable possibility of improvement following detailed audits and removal of barriers for implementing SSCB.

Covid-19 and pregnancy: the experience of a tertiary maternity hospital.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study is to present the effect of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in pregnancy and evaluate its impact on maternal and neonatal outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all COVID-19 positive pregnant women who were admitted to "Alexandra" maternity hospital from March to December 2020 (n=40). The infection status was determined via real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of nasopharyngeal swab specimen. We documented the demographic features, clinical status, pregnancy characteristics and maternal and fetal outcomes. RESULTS: Forty COVID-19 positive pregnant women were admitted to our clinic during the study period. Mean maternal age was 27.6 years. Gestational age (GA) ranged from 10-42 weeks of pregnancy with mean GA calculated at 38+3 weeks. Associated comorbidities included hypertension, hypothyroidism, epilepsy, hepatitis B and asthma. Thirty-five out of 40 women delivered within the study period. Cesarean section was performed in 57.1% of the cases. Most of the cases (87.5%) were asymptomatic while ventilation was required for only one patient. All neonates tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Neither maternal nor neonatal deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS: In alignment to other studies, our data show that the course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during pregnancy in the majority of cases is mild and neonatal outcomes also appear favorable.

Association between epidural analgesia and indications for intrapartum caesarean delivery in group 1 of the 10-group classification system at a tertiary maternity hospital, Shanghai, China: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to determine whether epidural analgesia affects the indications for intrapartum caesarean delivery, such as foetal distress, dystocia, or maternal request, in nulliparous term women with spontaneous labour (Group 1 in the 10-Group Classification System). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study and collected data from the electronic medical records of deliveries performed in our institution between 1 January 2017 and 30 June 2017. Women conforming to the criterion of Group 1 according to the 10-Group Classification System were enrolled. We compared labour outcomes between women with and without epidural analgesia and analysed the association between epidural analgesia and indications for caesarean by using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 3212 women met the inclusion criteria, and 2876 were enrolled in the final analyses. Women who received epidural analgesia had a significantly lower intrapartum caesarean delivery rate (16.0% vs. 26.7%, P < 0.001), higher rates of amniotomy (53.4% vs. 42.3%, P < 0.001) and oxytocin augmentation (79.5% vs. 67.0%, P < 0.001), and a higher incidence of intrapartum fever (≥38 °C) (23.3% vs. 8.5%, P < 0.001) than those who did not receive epidural analgesia. There were no significant differences between the groups for most indications, except a lower probability of maternal request for caesarean delivery (3.9% vs. 10.5%, P < 0.001) observed in women who received epidural analgesia than in those who did not. Epidural analgesia was revealed to be associated with a decreased risk of maternal request for caesarean delivery (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22-0.42; P < 0.001); however, oxytocin augmentation was related to an increased risk of maternal request (aOR, 2.34; 95%CI, 1.47-3.75; P < 0.001). Regarding the reasons for the maternal request for caesarean delivery, significantly fewer women complained of pain (0.5% vs. 4.6%, P < 0.001) or had no labour progress (1.3% vs. 3.6%, P < 0.001) among those who received analgesia. CONCLUSIONS: Among the women in Group 1, epidural analgesia was associated with a lower intrapartum caesarean delivery rate, which may be explained by a reduction in the risk of maternal request for an intrapartum caesarean delivery.

Indirect effects of COVID-19 in referring women to gynecologic oncology, perinatology and gynecology clinics in Iran.

PURPOSE: COVID-19 has captured the world. We hypothesized that this pandemic reduced referral of other non-COVID-19 patients to the hospitals or clinics, including gynecological and perinatological referrals. Women can be at risk in limited use of health services. METHODS: In this retrospective study, referrals from gynecologic oncology, perinatology, and gynecology clinics in a large teaching hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) were compared from February 20 to May 20, 2020, with the same period in 2019. Finally, referral trends in 2020 were compared with the COVID-19 admission pattern. RESULTS: Total admissions to all three clinics declined 63% in 2020 compared to 2019. There was a significant relationship between the number of visits to three clinics during these2  years (p < 0.001). The reduction in referrals to the gynecology clinic was more than gynecologic oncology and perinatology. The COVID-19 referral pattern was conversely linked to gynecology-related admissions. CONCLUSION: As the pandemic situation makes patients hesitant to go to the hospitals or not, health policymakers should consider other non-COVID issues, including maternal and fetal concerns. Providing safe places for other patients to visit is a goal that can be achieved through developing guidelines for nosocomial hygiene and training informed healthcare staff. Moreover, non-urgent visits should be avoided or postponed. This issue calls for new strategies, including telemedicine in situations similar to the current pandemic to both identify and manage such conditions.

Comparación de la tasa de cesáreas de dos maternidades públicas del Uruguay / Comparison of the caesarean section rate of two publics health maternity in Uruguay / Comparação da taxa de cesariana de duas maternidades públicas no Uruguai

Se realizó un analisis de la tasa de cesáreas en dos maternidades públicas de referencia de Uruguay (Hospital de Clínicas y Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell) utilizando la clasificación de Robson para compararlas entre sí, mediante un estudio observacional, descriptivo, retrospectivo y transversal en un periodo de 10 años y 10 meses (2009-2019). Se analizaron 85.526 nacimientos (7.685 (8,9%) en el Clínicas vs 77.841 (91.1%) Pereira Rossell). El porcentaje de cesáreas por año en el Clínicas fue 49,2% ± 5 vs 29,3% ± 3 en Pereira Rossell. Los grupos de Robson más prevalentes fueron 1, 5A y 10 en el Clínicas vs 3, 1 y 5A en Pereira Rossell. En ambos centros los grupos con mayor contribución relativa a la tasa global de cesáreas fueron: 5A, 10 y 1. Ambos centros presentan un aumento en la tasa de cesárea en la última década, pese a que se asisten poblaciones dispares entre cada uno de ellos. Se debe seguir buscando estrategias que ayuden a reducir la tasa de cesáreas principalmente en pacientes sin cesáreas anteriores o con una única cesárea previa, en caso de no presentan contraindicaciones para el parto vaginal.

An analysis of the caesarean section rate was carried out in two reference public maternity wards in Uruguay (Hospital de Clínicas and Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell) using Robson's classification to compare them with each other, through an observational, descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional study in a period 10 years and 10 months (2009-2019). 85,526 births were analyzed (7,685 (8.9%) in the Clinics vs 77,841 (91.1%) Pereira Rossell). The percentage of caesarean sections per year in the Clinics was 49.2% ± 5 vs 29.3% ± 3 in Pereira Rossell. The most prevalent Robson groups were 1, 5A and 10 in the Clinicas vs 3, 1 and 5A in Pereira Rossell. In both centers, the groups with the highest relative contribution to the overall rate of cesarean sections were: 5A, 10 and 1. Both centers show an increase in the rate of cesarean section in the last decade, despite the fact that different populations are attended between each of them. Strategies should continue to be sought to help reduce the rate of cesarean sections, mainly in patients without previous cesarean sections or with a single previous cesarean section, if they do not present contraindications for vaginal delivery.

Foi realizada análise da taxa de cesárea em duas maternidades públicas de referência do Uruguai (Hospital de Clínicas e Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell), utilizando a classificação de Robson para compará-las, por meio de estudo observacional, descritivo, retrospectivo e transversal. em um período de 10 anos e 10 meses (2009-2019). Foram analisados 85.526 partos (7.685 (8,9%) nas Clínicas vs 77.841 (91,1%) Pereira Rossell). A porcentagem de cesarianas por ano nas Clínicas foi de 49,2% ± 5 vs 29,3% ± 3 em Pereira Rossell. Os grupos de Robson mais prevalentes foram 1, 5A e 10 nas Clínicas vs 3, 1 e 5A em Pereira Rossell. Em ambos os centros, os grupos com maior contribuição relativa para a taxa global de cesárea foram: 5A, 10 e 1. Ambos os centros apresentam aumento da taxa de cesárea na última década, apesar de diferentes populações serem atendidas entre cada um deles. Estratégias devem continuar a ser buscadas para ajudar a reduzir a taxa de cesárea, principalmente em pacientes sem cesárea anterior ou com cesárea única, se não apresentarem contra-indicações para parto normal.

Intention to use maternity waiting home and associated factors among pregnant women in Gamo Gofa zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2019.

BACKGROUND: A maternity waiting home is a temporary residence in which pregnant women from remote areas wait for their childbirth. It is an approach targeted to advance access to emergency obstetric care services especially, in hard-to-reach areas to escalate institutional delivery to reduce complications that occur during childbirth. Apart from the availability of this service, the intention of pregnant women to utilize the existing service is very important to achieve its goals. Thus, this study aimed to assess the intention to use maternity waiting homes and associated factors among pregnant women. METHODS: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 605 pregnant women using a multistage sampling technique from March 10 to April 10, 2019, by using a structured questionnaire through a face-to-face interview. The collected data was entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and analyzed using the SPSS version 24 statistical package. Logistic regression analysis was used to test the association. All variables at p-value < 0.25 in bivariate analysis were entered into multivariate analysis. Lastly, a significant association was declared at a P-value of < 0.05 with 95% CI. RESULTS: In this study, the intention to use maternity waiting homes was 295(48.8%, 95%CI: 47%-55%)). Occupation (government employee) (AOR:2.87,95%CI: 1.54-5.36), previous childbirth history (AOR:2.1,95%CI:1.22-3.57), past experience in maternity waiting home use AOR:4.35,95%CI:2.63-7.18), direct (AOR:1.57,95%CI:1.01-2.47) and indirect (AOR: 2.18, 1.38,3.44) subject norms and direct (AOR:3.00,95%CI:2.03-4.43), and indirect (AOR = 1.84,95%CI:1.25-2.71) perceived behavioral control of respondents were significantly associated variables with intention to use maternity waiting home. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of intention to use maternity waiting homes among pregnant women is low. Community disapproval, low self-efficacy, maternal employment, history of previous birth, and past experiences of MWHs utilization are predictors of intention to use MWHs, and intervention programs, such as health education, strengthening and integration of community in health system programs need to be provided.

A birth population-based survey of preterm morbidity and mortality by gestational age.

BACKGROUND: Despite 15-17 millions of annual births in China, there is a paucity of information on prevalence and outcome of preterm birth. We characterized the outcome of preterm births and hospitalized preterm infants by gestational age (GA) in Huai'an in 2015, an emerging prefectural region of China. METHODS: Of 59,245 regional total births, clinical data on 2651 preterm births and 1941 hospitalized preterm neonates were extracted from Huai'an Women and Children's Hospital (HWCH) and non-HWCH hospitals in 2018-2020. Preterm prevalence, morbidity and mortality rates were characterized and compared by hospital categories and GA spectra. Death risks of preterm births and hospitalized preterm infants in the whole region were analyzed with multivariable Poisson regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of extreme, very, moderate, late and total preterm of the regional total births were 0.14, 0.53, 0.72, 3.08 and 4.47%, with GA-specific neonatal mortality rates being 44.4, 15.8, 3.7, 1.5 and 4.3%, respectively. There were 1025 (52.8% of whole region) preterm admissions in HWCH, with significantly lower in-hospital death rate of inborn (33 of 802, 4.1%) than out-born (23 of 223, 10.3%) infants. Compared to non-HWCH, three-fold more neonates in HWCH were under critical care with higher death rate, including most extremely preterm infants. Significantly all-death risks were found for the total preterm births in birth weight <  1000 g, GA < 32 weeks, amniotic fluid contamination, Apgar-5 min < 7, and birth defects. For the hospitalized preterm infants, significantly in-hospital death risks were found in out-born of HWCH, GA < 32 weeks, birth weight <  1000 g, Apgar-5 min < 7, birth defects, respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis and ventilation, whereas born in HWCH, antenatal glucocorticoids, cesarean delivery and surfactant use decreased the death risks. CONCLUSIONS: The integrated data revealed the prevalence, GA-specific morbidity and mortality rate of total preterm births and their hospitalization, demonstrating the efficiency of leading referral center and whole regional perinatal-neonatal network in China. The concept and protocol should be validated in further studies for prevention of preterm birth.

Satisfacción percibida por las mujeres durante el parto en el Hospital Universitario Materno-Infantil de Canarias a través del Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ-E) / Perceived satisfaction of women during labour at the Hospital Universitario Materno-Infantil of the Canary Islands through the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ-E)

OBJETIVO: Conocer el grado de satisfacción de las mujeres tras el parto en el Hospital Universitario Materno-Infantil de Gran Canaria (HUMIC) y establecer posibles relaciones entre el grado de satisfacción y las variables estudiadas. MÉTODO: Estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal con componente analítico. La población a estudio fueron las mujeres cuyo parto tuvo lugar en el mes de noviembre del 2018 en el HUMIC reclutadas mediante muestreo no probabilístico de tipo consecutivo. Se utilizó el cuestionario Childbirth Experience Questionnaire en su versión española (CEQ-E) (cuestionario con 4 dominios: capacidad propia, apoyo profesional, seguridad percibida y participación/modelo de análisis 2). En una primera fase se realizó un análisis descriptivo y en una segunda, un análisis inferencial para explorar la asociación entre diferentes variables. RESULTADOS: La muestra total fue de 257 mujeres (n=257). La puntuación total con el CEQ-E fue de 3,24 (DE 0,37 puntos). No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la puntuación final del CEQ-E entre las mujeres con parto espontáneo frente a inducciones-estimulaciones (p = 0,563) ni entre mujeres primíparas frente a multíparas (p = 0,060).Las mujeres cuyo parto había sido menor o igual a 12 h (p = 0,024), sin traumatismo perineal (p = 0,021) y aquellas a las que no se les ha realizado episiotomía (p = 0,002) obtuvieron mejor puntuación final en el CEQ-E. El parto instrumental (fórceps) frente al parto eutócico se asocia a puntuaciones menores respecto a la puntuación final en el CEQ-E (p≤0,001). CONCLUSIONES: La satisfacción global de la gestante tras el parto en el HUMIC es alta. El parto instrumental parece asociarse a menor satisfacción percibida. Aspectos como el miedo y el cansancio en el parto pueden influir negativamente en la satisfacción. Estos aspectos son susceptibles de mejora mediante el establecimiento de estrategias que ayuden a mayor bienestar y minimicen el miedo de las gestantes en su parto

OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree of satisfaction of women after childbirth at the Hospital Universitario Materno-Infantil of Gran Canaria (HUMIC) and to establish possible relationships between the degree of satisfaction and the variables studied. METHOD: A cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study with an analytical component. The study population comprised women who gave birth at the HUMIC in November 2018, recruited through consecutive non-probabilistic sampling. The Spanish version of the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ-E) was used (questionnaire with 4 domains: own capacity', professional support, perceived safety and participation/analytical model 2). In a first phase a descriptive analysis was made, and in a second phase an inferential analysis to explore the association between different variables. RESULTS: The total sample comprised 257 women (n=257). The total score using the CEQ was 3.24 (SD .37 points). No statistically significant differences were found in the final CEQ score between the women who had a spontaneous delivery versus induction-stimulation (P=.563) or between primiparous versus multiparous women (P=.060). The women whose labour lasted 12hours or less (P=.024), without perineal trauma (P=.021) and those who had not undergone episiotomy (P=.002) achieved a better final CEQ score. Instrumental delivery (forceps) versus normal delivery is associated with lower scores with respect to the final CEQ-E score (P=≤.001). CONCLUSIONS: Women's overall satisfaction after delivery in HUMIC was high. Instrumental delivery seems to be associated with lower perceived satisfaction. Aspects such as fear and fatigue in labour could affect satisfaction negatively. These aspects can be improved by establishing strategies to increase comfort and minimise pregnant women's fear of labour

Validation of the fullPIERS model for prediction of adverse outcomes in preeclampsia at a referral center.

OBJECTIVES: To validate the use of fullPIERS to predict maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes in a referral center. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including all pregnant women with preeclampsia (PE) at a referral center in southeast Brazil. The prevalence of PE and adverse outcomes were assessed. The fullPIERS score was tested on three composites of adverse outcomes: maternal adverse outcome; fetal adverse outcomes; and the combination of these two. Furthermore, the fullPIERS risk calculator, was considered to define the cutoff that better estimates adverse outcomes. RESULTS: 2839 women were screened in a one year period, with 208 (7.3%) cases of PE; most were preterm (56.7%); with severe features (74.5%). HELLP syndrome (6.7%), eclampsia (3.8%) and placental abruption (2.4%) were the most frequent complications. FullPIERS assessement had a median of 1.2% (0.45 - 2.3%) and the score had an excelent performance to predict adverse maternal outcome (AUC = 0.845, confidence interval 0.776 - 0.914, p-value < 0.01). For perinatal adverse outcomes (AUC = 0.699, confidence interval 0.581 - 0.816, p-value < 0.01) and the composite of maternal and perinatal adverse outcome (AUC = 0.804, confidence interval 0.736 - 0.872, p-vale < 0.01), fullPIERS score had a suboptimal performance. The cutoff value that best performed for the assessment of maternal adverse outcome was 2.15% (sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 83%). CONCLUSION: Preeclampsia was a significant complication during pregnancy. The fullPIERS model was an excellent tool to predict maternal adverse outcomes; with a cutoff value of 2.15% in the tested population.