The impacts of COVID-19 on mother health and pregnancy, Mini-review
Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Babylon, Babylon, 51001, Iraq.
Review Article
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2025, 30(01), 107-113.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gscbps.2025.30.1.0008
Publication history:
Received on 30 November 2024; revised on 06 January 2025; accepted on 09 January 2025
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly spread across the world causing a global pandemic. During a pandemic, it becomes increasing important to evaluate the effects on specific populations at risk. In this narrative review, we analyzed the literature regarding COVID-19 infection on the pregnant population as they are at increased risk of infection. COVID-19 did seem to significantly increase the risk of obstetric complications, specifically in underserved and marginalized populations. In general, COVID-19 rarely directly infected the fetus and placenta, apart from a very rare complication called COVID placentitis. In actuality, the mothers were at greatest direct risk due to COVID-19 infection. The most important takeaway from this pandemic is the prospective lesson and effect it had on social determinants of health. Women did not have safe access to antenatal care, leading to a plethora of indirect obstetric complications due to COVID-19. In conclusion, it was women who suffered from the pandemic, not the placenta nor the fetus. It is our duty as physicians to protect pregnant women, allowing the placenta to protect the fetus.
Keywords:
COVID-19; COVID placentitis; Pregnancy; Maternal health; SARS-CoV-2
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Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0
