The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Maternal Wellbeing and Its Associated Outcomes: Article Review

Yankho Stanley Gondwe, Dhamendra Kumar Dubey

Abstract: This is an article review about the dimensions of maternal health affected by contacting SARS-CoV2 during pregnancy, and the associated consequences taking into account the numerous ways in which the pandemic has disrupted daily life. The objective is to identify the effect of SARS-CoV2 on maternal wellbeing and its associated outcomes. The method of analysis of this article review follows PRISMA guidelines, 20 articles published between January 2020 and August 2021 have been carefully analyzed using PRISMA guidelines and consequences were identified with maternal sample size 5 to 6248 and neonatal sample size of 6 to 27. Results have shown that SARS-CoV2 affects negatively maternal physical health and mental state as well as neonatal outcomes. It has been found that many pregnant mothers who suffer from a COVID-19 infection range from asymptomatic-mild-moderate, and few suffer a severe form of SARS-CoV2. If symptomatic, the most presenting complaint is fever or cough. SARS-CoV2 can be transmitted across the placenta from COVID-19 positive mother to the unborn infant refered to as transplacental infection. Among cases of transplacental infection, it was associated with the placental microscopic changes and these are placental syncytiotrophoblast, chronic histiocytic intervillositis, and necrosis of the syncytiotrophoblast. Further, stillborn or spontaneous terminated pregnancy, underweight, neonatal asphyxia and death were also observed in transplacental infections but it was inconclusive whether it is to be associated with COVID-19. Policy or measures mandated to reduce the spread of the virus have also negative effect on maternal mental health manifested in the form of fear of contacting the illness, distress, anxiety, and depression of expectant mothers predisposing them to the risk of mental illness. In conclusion, COVID 19 infection has affected negatively maternal physical health, maternal mental health and associated outcomes are placental damage, vertical transmission of SARS-CoV2, stillbirth, intrauterine fetal death, neonatal underweight, respiratory distress syndrome and poor breastfeeding practices.

Keywords: Maternal health, maternal mental health, SARS-CoV 19, anxiety, stress, depression, psychological distress, transplacental infection, stillborn, mental illness, intrauterine fetal death, perinatal period, post-partum period, synctiotrophoblast, histiocytic intervillositis, necrosis