Forthcoming Issue Vol 19 No. 4 Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on neonatal services and outcomes in a tertiary hospital in Tshwane, South Africa
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Abstract
Background: The Covid-19 pandemic's collateral damage has severely impacted global child health services. This study investigates its effects on neonatal services and outcomes at a tertiary hospital in Tshwane, South Africa. The main aim was to assess if decreased breastfeeding, coupled with increased infant formula use due to Covid-19-related visitation disruptions, was associated with higher incidences of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in the hospital’s neonatal unit.
Methods: As part of the Tshwane Maternal-Child COVID-19 study, we collected relevant data from three periods: pre-Covid-19, Covid-year-1 (Covid-Y1) and Covid-year-2 (Covid-Y2).
Results: Exclusive breastfeeding at discharge decreased from 72.9% pre-Covid-19 to 47.0% during Covid-19. Preterm formula purchases rose by 37.5% in Covid-Y1 and 25.0% in Covid-Y2, and term formula purchases increased by 77.8% in Covid-Y1. HAI incidence increased in both Covid-Y1 and Covid-Y2 compared to pre-Covid-19 (11.6% vs 8.1% and 12.0% vs 8.1%). NEC incidence significantly increased in Covid-Y2 for infants ≥1500 g (1.8% vs 0.7%).
Conclusion: This study underscores the indirect consequences of Covid-19 parental visitation restrictions, leading to infringements of breastfeeding rights and coinciding increased HAI and NEC incidences in the hospital’s neonatal unit.
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