The effect of the covid-19 epidemic on services provided to mothers during pregnancy in the health system and their health indicators

Abstract

Antenatal care should be provided universally. According to some studies, the covid-19 epidemic disrupted the process of providing services. This study was designed and implemented with the aim of investigating the impact of covid-19 on the services provided to non-infected pregnant mothers in the rural areas of Tabriz city. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study of 921 rural pregnant mothers in two groups before covid-19 (2017-2019) and during the epidemic (2020-2021) by cluster random sampling method and in terms of background variables, process and outcomes, they were compared. The studying tool of the questionnaire was valid and reliable. The data were extracted from the household health file (CIB) and analyzed with SPSS23 software and the differences were analyzed in terms of significance. Results: The individual variables of parents' literacy rate, mother's occupation in the two groups had very little changes. There was a significant increase in the rate of cesarean delivery (16 percent increase), the rates of abortion and stillbirth in the cross section. They show an epidemic. The services of laboratory, ultrasound and supplemental assistance did not change much, but the number of cares, weighing during pregnancy and the important consequences of weight and height at birth of babies decreased.