At the time of writing 124 pregnant or postpartum women in Brazil have died due to COVID‐19 (representing a mortality rate of 12.7%), a figure that currently surpasses the total number of COVID‐19‐related maternal deaths reported throughout the rest of the world.

O objetivo deste artigo é justificar a necessidade de prevenção quaternária frente à 'violência obstétrica' (VO), terminologia que agrupa todas as formas de violência e danos originados no cuidado obstétrico profissional, bem como discutir estratégias e ações de prevenção quaternária a serem realizadas pelos médicos de família e comunidade (MFC), pelas equipes de atenção primária à saúde (APS) e suas entidades associativas. A prevalência de violência obstétrica no Brasil é alta: ¼ das mulheres relata terem sofrido maus-tratos durante o atendimento ao parto, além de excesso de intervenções desnecessárias (como venóclise, ocitocina de rotina e episiotomia) e privação de uma assistência baseada em boas práticas, tais como parto em posição vertical, possibilidade de se alimentar e de se movimentar durante o trabalho de parto e presença de um acompanhante. Destaca-se o excesso crônico de cesarianas (55,6% do total de nascimentos) no Brasil, mais prevalente no setor privado (85%) do que no público (40%). Ações de prevenção quaternária dirigidas à VO são propostas e discutidas, como: (1) a elaboração (individual e coletiva) de planos de parto orientados pelas equipes de APS no pré-natal (para os quais se oferece um roteiro); (2) a introdução de outros profissionais qualificados no cuidado ao parto de risco habitual (incluindo MFC capacitados); e (3) a participação dos MFC e profissionais da APS e suas associações no movimento social e político pela “humanização” do parto, com apoio às mudanças nas maternidades já em funcionamento e às novas iniciativas de serviços de cuidado ao parto.

Objective To describe clinical characteristics of pregnant and postpartum women with severe COVID‐19 in Brazil and to examine risk factors for mortality. Design Cross‐sectional study based on secondary surveillance database analysis. Setting Nationwide Brazil. Population or sample 978 Brazilian pregnant and postpartum women notified as COVID‐19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) cases with complete outcome (death or cure) up to 18 June 2020. Methods Data was abstracted from the Brazilian ARDS Surveillance System (ARDS‐SS) database. All eligible cases were included. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, intensive care resources use and outcomes were collected. Risk factors for mortality were examined by multivariate logistic regression. Main outcome measures Case fatality rate. Results We identified 124 maternal deaths, corresponding to a case fatality rate among COVID‐19 ARDS cases in the obstetric population of 12.7%. At least one comorbidity was present in 48.4% of fatal cases compared with 24.9% in survival cases. Among women who died, 58.9% were admitted to ICU, 53.2% had invasive ventilation and 29.0% had no respiratory support. The multivariate logistic regression showed that the main risk factors for maternal death by COVID‐19 were being postpartum at onset of ARDS, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, whereas white ethnicity had a protective effect. Conclusions Negative outcomes of COVID‐19 in this population are affected by clinical characteristics but social determinants of health also seem to play a role. It is urgent to reinforce containment measures targeting the obstetric population and ensure high quality care throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period. Tweetable abstract A total of 124 COVID‐19 maternal deaths were identified in Brazil. Symptoms onset at postpartum and comorbidities are risk factors.

Objective: The aim of this study was to collect and analyze data from different sources to have a general overview of COVID-19-related maternal deaths in Brazil, as well as to compare data with worldwide reports. Study design: We systematically searched data about COVID-19 maternal deaths from the Brazilian Ministry of Health surveillance system, State Departments of Health epidemiological reports, and media coverage. Data about timing of symptom onset and death (pregnancy or postpartum), gestational age, mode of birth, maternal age, comorbidities and/or risk factors, date of death, and place of death were retrieved when available. Results: We identified 20 COVID-19-related maternal deaths, age range 20-43 years. Symptoms onset was reported as on pregnancy for 12 cases, postpartum for 3 cases, and during the cesarean section for 1 case (missing data for 4). In 16 cases, death occurred in the postpartum period. At least one comorbidity or risk factor was present in 11 cases (missing data for 4). Asthma was the most common risk factor (5/11). Ten cases occurred in the Northeast region, and nine cases occurred in the Southeast region (5 of them in São Paulo, the first epicenter of COVID-19 in the country). Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest available series of maternal deaths due to COVID-19. Barriers to access healthcare, differences in pandemic containment measures in the country and high prevalence of concomitant risk factors for COVID-19 severe disease may play a role in the observed disparity compared to worldwide reports on maternal outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate whether clinical and social risk factors are associated with negative outcomes for COVID-19 disease among Brazilian pregnant and postpartum women. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted of the official Acute Respiratory Syndrome Surveillance System database. Pregnant and postpartum women diagnosed with COVID-19 ARDS until July 14, 2020, were included. Adverse outcomes were a composite endpoint of either death, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), or mechanical ventilation. Risk factors were examined by multiple logistic regression. Results: There were 2475 cases of COVID-19 ARDS. Among them, 23.8% of women had the composite endpoint and 8.2% died. Of those who died, 5.9% were not hospitalized, 39.7% were not admitted to the ICU, 42.6% did not receive mechanical ventilation, and 25.5% did not have access to respiratory support. Multivariate analysis showed that postpartum period, age over 35 years, obesity, diabetes, black ethnicity, living in a peri-urban area, no access to Family Health Strategy, or living more than 100 km from the notification hospital were associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. Conclusion: Clinical and social risk factors and barriers to access health care are associated with adverse outcomes among maternal cases of COVID-19 ARDS in Brazil.