Direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 on perinatal outcomes in low- and middle-income countries

Felisita Tupou Ratu; Kathleen Ryan; Netsanet Workneh Gidi; Ilisapeci Vereti; Tsinuel Girma; Jeremy Oats; Ingrid Bucens; Alexandra Robinson; Claire von Mollendorf; Fiona M Russell

doi:10.12688/gatesopenres.13156.2

Direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 on perinatal outcomes in low- and middle-income countries

Gates Open Res. 2021 Jul 21:4:108. doi: 10.12688/gatesopenres.13156.2. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Felisita Tupou Ratu¹, Kathleen Ryan¹, Netsanet Workneh Gidi^{2

3}, Ilisapeci Vereti⁴, Tsinuel Girma², Jeremy Oats^{1

5}, Ingrid Bucens⁶, Alexandra Robinson⁷, Claire von Mollendorf^{1

8}, Fiona M Russell^{1

8}

Affiliations

¹ Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia.
² College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
³ Center for International Health, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany.
⁴ Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Suva, Fiji.
⁵ Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
⁶ National Hospital Guido Valadares, Dili, Timor-Leste.
⁷ UNFPA Pacific Sub Regional Office, Suva, Fiji.
⁸ Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

Abstract

Similar to previous outbreaks, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will have both direct and indirect effects on perinatal outcomes, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Limited data on the direct impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during pregnancy shows women who are Black, obese and with co-morbidities are at higher risk of hospitalisation due to COVID-19. Younger age groups in Africa and South Asia have shown increased COVID-19 mortality. Indigenous pregnant women in Pacific Island countries are likely to be high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 due to high rates of diabetes and obesity. It is important to involve pregnant women in research, especially with regards to vaccine development and therapeutics.

Keywords: COVID-19; Pacific Islands; comorbidities; indigenous; maternal outcomes; perinatal outcomes.

Grants and funding

The article processing charge for this article was covered by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. FMR and CvM have received support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation [INV-008518].