Associate Professor
Mette Bliddal
OPEN Open patient Data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital
| Project management | ||
| Project status | Sampling ongoing | |
| Data collection dates | ||
| Start | 15.04.2020 | |
| End | 01.04.2025 | |
Consequences of COVID-19 infection for pregnant women, women giving birth and their new-borns
Short summary
The corona pandemic challenges our healthcare system and no one yet knows whether COVID-19 is dangerous to pregnant women, women giving birth, or the new-born baby. With this study, we want to investigate the extent of infection and the danger of COVID-19 in pregnant women and their children based on data collection from the Danish health registries. Moreover, we want to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic affects pregnant women's well-being and mental health. We contacted all pregnant women in Denmark with a questionnaire regarding COVID-19 and mental wellbeing and worries in pregnancy and childbirth. The results of the questionnaire survey will be used to develop clinical guidelines that can help the health care system to provide the best advice and care for pregnant women and women giving birth during a possible new COVID-19 epidemic.
Rationale
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a huge challenge for healthcare systems worldwide. As COVID-19 is a new and unknown virus no one yet knows whether infection in pregnancy can affect pregnancy- and birth outcomes in both mother and the unborn child. It is important to clarify with regard to prevention and treatment measures if the mother has or has had COVID-19 during pregnancy. Uncertainty and divergent messages from health authorities, which inevitably follow in such a suddenly arisen situation, are of great importance for how the woman experiences being pregnant. It can cause increasing concern and affect the woman's mental health. We therefore need detailed knowledge of how pregnant women are affected mentally by the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the at times conflicting messages issued from authorities. Our study has two purposes. Firstly, to uncover the extent of infection with COVID-19 among pregnant women and new-borns in Denmark and investigate the association between COVID-19 and pregnancy and birth outcomes in order to ensure evidence-based counselling for pregnant women, regions and health authorities in the event of future outbreaks of this disease. Secondly, we want to uncover how COVID-19 affects the mental health of pregnant women and gain knowledge about how they experience the intensified restrictions from health authorities in relation to their forthcoming birth.
Data and biological material
We obtain information on pregnancy and birth outcomes from the national health registries at the Danish Health Data Authority on all pregnant women and women giving birth in Denmark during the time of the pandemic, including information on possible COVID-19 infection. Furthermore we sent out a questionnaire in April 2020 to all pregnant women in Denmark. The questionnaire contains information on demographics and other background information, health conditions, mental health and which factors in relation to the forthcoming birth that causes increased insecurity. The questionnaires were sent out via E-boks. Data is entered via an encrypted connection and meets current data protection requirements.
Collaborating researchers and departments
Department of Gynaecology, Odense University Hospital (OUH)
- Lone Kjeld Pedersen, Professor
- Jan Stener Jørgensen, Professor
- Ellen Aagaard Nøhr, Professor
Open Patient Data Explorative Network (OPEN), Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark (SDU).
- Mette Bliddal, Associate Professor
- Katrine Hass Rubin, Associate Professor
- Lonny Merete Stokholm, Postdoc
Department of Public Health, SDU
- Katja Schrøder, Professor
Ministry of Higher Education and Science
Publications associated with the project