The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Maternal Mortality Attributes

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a challenge for mothers to access health services in Indonesia. Patient management, referral processes, and maternal screening protocols are the reasons for this issue. Aims: This study aimed to analyze maternal mortality trends in East Java Province before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study was conducted using retrospective observation with a cross-sectional design, and samples were selected using a total sampling technique. The number of maternal deaths in East Java was 520 in 2019 and 565 in 2020. The independent variable in this study is the number of maternal deaths, and the dependent variables include age, gravida, place of death, rescue relay, time of death, and maternal complications. The variables of age, place of death, rescue relay, and gravida were assessed using the Chi-square test. Results: Statistical tests showed a ρ value of 0.195 for age; 0.916 for place of death; 0.646 for rescue relay; and 0.048 for gravida. Conclusion: Maternal mortality showed different trends before and after the pandemic in East Java. Significant differences in maternal mortality rate are influenced by gravida status.

Factors Causing Maternal Death due to COVID-19 in Several Countries: A Literature Review

“…Based on data from the Directorate of Family Health, 1,086 mothers died as of September 14, 2021, due to COVID-19. 4 Factors that increase the risk of maternal death come from direct and indirect factors. Indirect factors such as age, health facility access, inadequate tools, and health services, access to knowledge, cultural practice, and poverty.…”

“…MMR is one indicator of the success of development in the health sector and describes the quality of maternal health. 4 However, efforts to achieve targets following the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been hampered due to COVID-19. Pregnant women are considered to be among the most vulnerable and at-risk populations in dealing with the spread of this virus.…”

“…Factors causing death due to exposure to COVID-19 in pregnant women need to be studied to differentiate and prevent complications. 4 Various countries are facing a similar problem, namely COVID-19. Data on maternal mortality due to COVID-19 around the world varies with possible different causes due to different capacities of health systems.…”

Clinical Factors Associated with Maternal Death in Pregnant Women Infected by COVID-19 in Indonesia: A Multicenter Prospective Study

“…In the Brazil population-based cohort analysis of all pregnant women hospitalized with COVID-19, there were 1,858 maternal deaths (12.3%) out of 15,105 pregnancies, with a maternal mortality rate of 7.5 per 1000 patient-days [19]. In the province of East Java in Indonesia, the number of maternal deaths in 38 cities increased dramatically during the pandemic (2020) compared to before the pandemic (2019) (565 vs 520 deaths) [20]. One study from academic hospital in Surabaya (Indonesia) showed that maternal mortality directly caused by COVID-19 in pregnant women was signi cantly higher (OR: 6.91, 95% CI: 0.79-60.81) [15].…”

Maternal Death, Quality Services, and Mental Health: A Cycle or Repeated Episode ?

“…Maternal issues are classic issues in every edition of the Indonesian Journal of Health Administration. In this issue, our authors, Fatmaningrum et al (2022), revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic had increased the number of maternal deaths. Research conducted by Ernawaty and Sri (2022) again shows how big the risks Indonesian women must bear during pregnancy and childbirth are.…”