COVID-19 disease is associated with increased risk of severe illness among pregnant women, together with adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes.
The WHO COVID-19 Clinical Management Team jointly with the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research hosted a webinar on the 11 January 2022 focused on the key elements to consider in the clinical management of mild, moderate, or severe COVID-19 during pregnancy, childbirth, and the early postnatal period.
This session brought together clinical experts from around the world to discuss the latest data on COVID-19 in pregnancy, community and hospital-based management, supportive care, prevention of complications and use of therapeutics during pregnancy.
Professor Michelle Giles opened the webinar delivering an overview of COVID-19 in pregnancy, including case definitions, impact on pregnancy and perinatal outcomes. The presentation reviewed data from a global meta-analysis of 192 cohort studies comparing pregnant women with COVID-19 with non-pregnant women with COVID-19 which shows that pregnant women are more likely to be admitted to the ICU, require caesarean section, require invasive ventilation, and have increased odds of maternal death. Babies born to these mothers were at higher risk for preterm birth and stillbirth, and at increased risk of being admitted to the NICU.
Professor Priya Soma-Pillay reviewed home-based care approaches for pregnant women with mild to moderate COVID-19. This presentation highlights the role home-based care can play to reduce transmission of COVID-19, and provides a comprehensive overview of assessment, clinical management, and infection prevention control considerations for safe home-based care in pregnant women with COVID-19.
Dr María Fernanda Escobar gave a comprehensive overview on the management of pregnant woman with severe or critical COVID-19. This presentation emphasized the importance of pregnant women receiving vaccination against COVID-19, as increasing evidence on the safety and effectiveness of vaccination to convey strong protection against severe illness from COVID-19.
Professor Beverley J Hunt, a member of the WHO COVID-19 Therapeutics Guideline Development Group (GDG), gave an overview of the therapeutics WHO has recommended for use in individuals with COVID-19 and discussed the evidence and use case in women who are pregnant.
Professor Shakila Thangaratinam reviewed the importance and ways a pregnant woman can have safe and respectful care at every stage of the pregnancy, during childbirth, and in the postnatal period, regardless of her COVID-19 status.
Finally, Professor Luis Bahamondes provided an overview of contraceptive methods for women in the immediate postpartum and postabortion period and discussed the importance of public health policies in times of crisis that guarantee sexual and reproductive rights and access to care.
Agenda and Presentations
Overview on COVID-19 in pregnancy
Professor Michelle Giles
Home based care for mild and moderate COVID-19 during and after pregnancy
Professor Priya Soma-Pillay
Optimized care of severe and critical COVID-19 during and after pregnancy English I Spanish
Dr Maria Escobar Vidarte
WHO therapeutic guidance: review of current recommendations and application in pregnancy
Professor Beverley Hunt
Care of the woman and newborn during childbirth
Professor Shakila Thangaratinam
Postpartum and post-abortion contraception and COVID-19
Professor Luis Bahamondes