Pandemic social distancing measures have been linked to higher rates of preterm births and newborn deaths, a new study reveals.
Study overview
In research published in JAMA Network Open, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) experts analyzed over 18 million births in Alabama from 2016 to 2020. They compared prepandemic years to the period after public health restrictions began in March 2020.
Key findings
While the link wasn’t immediately apparent, researchers found a connection between social distancing and increased neonatal mortality and preterm births within two months of implementing social distancing. The neonatal period includes the first four weeks of life.
Expert insights
Dr. Vivek Shukla, senior study author and assistant professor in the UAB Division of Neonatology, highlighted the “unanticipated effects” of social distancing on infant health. He emphasized the need for further research to understand these associations more deeply.
“This study shows that, on a population level, there might be delayed effects of health interventions,” Dr. Shukla stated, noting the necessity of evaluating how social behavior impacted health outcomes without considering the direct effects of COVID-19 infections on mothers and infants.
Health system impact
During the pandemic, fewer prenatal visits and medical checkups were recorded, likely influenced by social distancing. Dr. Rachel Sinkey, a co-author and associate professor in the UAB Division of Maternal–Fetal Medicine, stressed the importance of these appointments for identifying and addressing complications.
According to the American Medical Association, 81% of physicians reported providing fewer in-person visits in mid-2020, with the average number of weekly visits dropping from 95 to 57.
Higher rates of conditions like gestational diabetes, hypertension, labor induction, and neonatal ICU admissions were noted during the pandemic. Although neonatal mortality rates were generally lower throughout 2020, slight increases were observed post-social distancing adherence.
Dr. Shukla emphasized the importance of learning from the pandemic to better prepare for future health crises. The study’s observational nature precludes causal conclusions, underscoring the need for more detailed research into the unintended effects of pandemic-related health behavior changes.