Disruption to antenatal and postnatal services during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experience in a selected Medical Officer of Health area in Colombo District

Abstract

Pregnant mothers under care for second quarter of 2019 and 2020 were 353 and 345 respectively. Significant reductions were observed in subsequent antenatal clinic (ANC) visits (15.20%, CI 8.00%-22.18%, p<0.0001), attendance to second antenatal session (22.94%, CI 11.88%-33.21%, p<0.0001), number of pregnant mothers who attended more than seven ANC (12.92%, CI 1.67%-23.70%, p=0.024), and number referred for oral health (21.84%, CI 11.55%-31.49%, p<0.0001). Postpartum mothers under care during the study period for the years 2019 and 2020 were 58 and 53 while infants registered were 151 and 133 respectively. Infants registered with a normal birth weight decreased by 14.82% (CI6.19%-23.27%, p=0.0008). Continuation of home visits by PHM after 42 days of delivery and the number of infants who were brought to the clinic at one month showed a significant decline of 18.25% (CI 15.61%20.85%, p<0.0001) and 30.93% (CI 20.30% 40.48%, p<0.0001) respectively.