February 23, 2021
What Is Driving the Decreased Incidence of Preterm Birth during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Category: Article Summary
Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice
Keywords (Tags): pregnancy, public health
A retrospective cohort study of over 17,687 singleton deliveries prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (January 2018 to January 2020) and over 5,396 singleton deliveries during the pandemic (April 2020 to October 2020) at a single tertiary center in Pennsylvania found a small but statistically significant decrease in overall preterm birth (11% vs 10%). Both spontaneous and indicated preterm births decreased in the study population. However, decreases in spontaneous preterm birth were limited to deliveries to women from more advantaged neighborhoods (most advantaged: 4.4 vs. 3.8%; least advantaged: 7.2 vs. 7.4%), white mothers (white: 5.6 vs 4.7%; Black: 6.6 vs 7.1%), and those receiving care from providers at clinics that do not provide prenatal care to those eligible for Medicare/Medicaid (non-OPC) (non-OPC providers: 5.5 vs 4.8%; OPC-providers: 6.3 vs 6.7%).
Lemon et al. (Feb 18, 2021). What Is Driving the Decreased Incidence of Preterm Birth during the COVID-19 Pandemic? American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajogmf.2021.100330