Objective: To describe risk factors and outcomes of pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 admitted to South African healthcare facilities. Methods:A population-based cohort study was conducted utilizing an amended International Obstetric Surveillance System protocol. Data on pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalized between April 14, 2020, and November 24, 2020, were analyzed.Results: A total of 36 hospitals submitted data on 673 infected hospitalized pregnant women; 217 (32.2%) were admitted for COVID-19 illness and 456 for other indications. There were 39 deaths with a case fatality rate of 6.3%: 32 (14.7%) deaths occurred in women admitted for COVID-19 illness compared to 7 (1.8%) in women admitted for other indications. Of the women, 106 (15.9%) required critical care.Maternal tuberculosis, but not HIV co-infection or other co-morbidities, was associated with admission for COVID-19 illness. Rates of cesarean delivery did not differ significantly between women admitted for COVID-19 and those admitted for other indications. There were 179 (35.4%) preterm births, 25 (4.7%) stillbirths, 12 (2.3%) neonatal deaths, and 162 (30.8%) neonatal admissions. Neonatal outcomes did not differ significantly from those of infected women admitted for other indications. Conclusion:The maternal mortality rate was high among women admitted with SARS-CoV-2 infection and higher in women admitted primarily for COVID-19 illness with tuberculosis being the only co-morbidity associated with admission.

Background. Unintended pregnancies remain an important health challenge in South Africa (SA) and worldwide. Improving access to contraception and long-acting reversible contraception in particular, may reduce the number of unintended pregnancies.Objective. To determine the impact of a training and supportive mentoring programme on postpartum uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods.Methods. A quality-of-care improvement intervention with pre- and post-intervention evaluation of LARC uptake was conductedat a midwife-led, on-site obstetric unit in the Eastern Cape, SA. Midwives were trained in contraceptive counselling and postpartum etonorgestrel implant insertion. The researcher provided counselling and postpartum intrauterine device (IUD) insertion services.Results. In the 10 weeks prior to the intervention, neither the IUD nor the implant were provided in the unit. In the 10 weeks after the intervention, uptake of the IUD was n=27/289 (9.3%) and the implant n=21/289 (7.3%). Use of no contraception or condoms increased from n=22/273 (8.1%) to n=41/289 (14.2%) (p<0.02). The increase was accounted for by a change in staff in the last 4 weeks of the intervention period (n=33/105 (31.4%) v. n=8/184 (4.4%) during the first 6 weeks; p<0.00).Conclusion. Competing responsibilities of maternity staff may limit the contraceptive options offered to postpartum women. Aprogramme of training and supportive supervision resulted in a substantial increase in levels of LARC uptake. Strategies are needed to institutionalise comprehensive postpartum contraceptive provision nationally.