ArticlePloS one2021
Impact of the early COVID-19 pandemic on outcomes in a rural Ugandan neonatal unit: A retrospective cohort study.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in low-and lower-middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC public health · 2024Pooled it
- Effect of the COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai on maternal and neonatal outcomes.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2025Article
- Trends and distribution of birth asphyxia, Uganda, 2017-2020: a retrospective analysis of public health surveillance data.African health sciences · 2025Article
- Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of the Hospital to Home discharge and follow-up programme in rural Uganda: a mixed-methods intervention study.BMJ global health · 2025Article
- Indirect effects of COVID-19 on maternal and child health in South Africa.Global health action · 2023Article
- Protecting small and sick newborn care in the COVID-19 pandemic: multi-stakeholder qualitative data from four African countries with NEST360.BMC pediatrics · 2023Article
- Regional differences in the utilisation of antenatal care and skilled birth attendant services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: an interrupted time series analysis.BMJ global health · 2023Article
- Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on inpatient service utilization and patient outcomes in Uganda.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Effect of COVID-19 on antenatal care: experiences of medical professionals in the Netherlands.Reproductive health · 2023Article
- Article
- Use of routine health information systems to monitor disruptions of coverage of maternal, newborn, and child health services during COVID-19: A scoping review.Journal of global health · 2023Article
- COVID-19 impacts on healthcare access in sub-Saharan Africa: an overview.The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases · 2023Article
- Article
- Outborn newborns drive birth asphyxia mortality rates-An 8 year analysis at a rural level two nursery in Uganda.PLOS global public health · 2023Article
- Experiences of mothers and significant others in accessing comprehensive healthcare in the first 1000 days of life post-conception during COVID-19 in rural Uganda.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2022Article
- The direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and child health services in Africa: a scoping review.Global health research and policy · 2022Article
- The COVID-19 Pandemic, Social Ties, and Psychosocial Well-Being of Middle-Aged Women in Rural Africa.Socius : sociological research for a dynamic worldArticle
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8 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundDuring the early COVID-19 pandemic travel in Uganda was tightly restricted which affected demand for and access to care for pregnant women and small and sick newborns. In this study we describe changes to neonatal outcomes in one rural central Ugandan newborn unit before and during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
methodsWe report outcomes from admissions captured in an electronic dataset of a well-established newborn unit before (September 2019 to March 2020) and during the early COVID-19 period (April-September 2020) as well as two seasonally matched periods one year prior. We report excess mortality as the percent change in mortality over what was expected based on seasonal trends.
findingsThe study included 2,494 patients, 567 of whom were admitted during the early COVID-19 period. During the pandemic admissions decreased by 14%. Patients born outside the facility were older on admission than previously (median 1 day of age vs. admission on the day of birth). There was an increase in admissions with birth asphyxia (22% vs. 15% of patients). Mortality was higher during COVID-19 than previously [16% vs. 11%, p = 0.017]. Patients born outside the facility had a relative increase of 55% above seasonal expected mortality (21% vs. 14%, p = 0.028). During this period patients had decreased antenatal care, restricted transport and difficulty with expenses and support. The hospital had difficulty with maternity staffing and supplies. There was significant community and staff fear of COVID-19.
interpretationIncreased newborn mortality during the early COVID-19 pandemic at this facility was likely attributed to disruptions affecting maternal and newborn demand for, access to and quality of perinatal healthcare. Lockdown conditions and restrictions to public transit were significant barriers to maternal and newborn wellbeing, and require further focus by national and regional health officials.
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