{"id":72,"date":"2023-03-02T10:02:29","date_gmt":"2023-03-02T16:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coco66.com\/lockdowns-prevented-thousands-of-premature-births-worldwide\/"},"modified":"2023-03-02T10:02:29","modified_gmt":"2023-03-02T16:02:29","slug":"lockdowns-prevented-thousands-of-premature-births-worldwide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coco66.com\/lockdowns-prevented-thousands-of-premature-births-worldwide\/","title":{"rendered":"Lockdowns Prevented Thousands of Premature Births Worldwide"},"content":{"rendered":"
A new research study has found that lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic may have prevented tens of thousands of premature births around the world, primarily in high-income countries. The findings come from a multidisciplinary study of 56 million births from 26 countries between January 2015 and July 2020.[0]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n The study, which was part of the International Perinatal Outcomes in the Pandemic (iPOP) Study, involved 167 global partners and was co-led by the University of Manitoba and the Murdoch Children's Research Institute.[1]<\/a><\/sup> The research showed that during the first four months of Covid-19 lockdowns, there was a 3-4 per cent relative reduction in preterm births \u2013 defined as birth before 37 weeks gestation \u2013 in high-income countries, including Australia. This amounted to an estimated 50,000 fewer babies being born prematurely during this period.<\/p>\n Experts believe the drop could be linked to pregnant women being exposed to fewer non-Covid-19 infections and better air quality, due to reduced traffic during lockdown.[2]<\/a><\/sup> However, the shift in some countries could also be because of delayed or reduced access to quality healthcare during the early stages of the pandemic or other factors related to Covid-19 lockdowns.[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n The researchers noted that understanding the underlying pathways linking lockdown with the reduction in preterm births could have implications for clinical practice and policy.[2]<\/a><\/sup> Potential modifiable mechanisms underlying their findings that should be investigated as possible contributors to preterm birth include the possible effects of non-COVID-19 infections, air pollution, maternal stress and economic security, and access to health care.[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n The study also found that transmission of COVID-19 from mother to baby was rare and generally mild when it occurred.[5]<\/a><\/sup> However, almost half of all babies did not receive any breast milk, with only a quarter being breastfed and the majority of mothers and babies having no skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth.[6]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n It was encouraging to see family-centred care practices become more prevalent as the pandemic progressed, even when the mother was ill.[6]<\/a><\/sup> The researchers strongly encourage health services to continue implementing family-centred care practices during the future stages of this pandemic to ensure neonates and mothers receive the best possible health benefits.[5]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n 0. <\/span>“Less pollution, stress linked to decrease in preterm births in early months of COVID-19 pandemic: study” Ottawa.CityNews.ca, 28 Feb. 2023, https:\/\/ottawa.citynews.ca\/local-news\/less-pollution-stress-linked-to-decrease-in-preterm-births-in-early-months-of-covid-19-pandemic-study-6621380<\/a><\/p>\n 1. <\/span>“Babies born preterm decreased slightly and stillborn rates unchanged during first wave of COVID-19 lockdowns” EurekAlert, 28 Feb. 2023, https:\/\/www.eurekalert.org\/news-releases\/980504<\/a><\/p>\n 2. <\/span>“Coronavirus pandemic: Lockdown prevented early births, according to Scottish researchers” The Scotsman, 27 Feb. 2023, https:\/\/www.scotsman.com\/health\/covid-pandemic-lockdown-prevented-early-births-according-to-scottish-researchers-4043357<\/a><\/p>\n 3. <\/span>“Premature births dropped by 3-4% in first four months of lockdowns \u2013 study” The Independent, 27 Feb. 2023, https:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/news\/uk\/experts-university-of-edinburgh-brazil-b2290512.html<\/a><\/p>\n 4. <\/span>“Murdoch Children's Reports Surprising Finding on Preterm Births During COVID Lockdown” MedicalResearch.com, 28 Feb. 2023, https:\/\/medicalresearch.com\/murdoch-childrens-reports-surprising-finding-on-preterm-births-during-covid-lockdown\/<\/a><\/p>\n 5. <\/span>“COVID-19 pandemic caused decreased breastfeeding – study” The Jerusalem Post, 21 Feb. 2023, https:\/\/www.jpost.com\/health-and-wellness\/article-732318<\/a><\/p>\n