Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41225622›Full record

ArticleReproductive health2025

Implementation of the multicountry WHO COVID-19 pregnancy cohort study: challenges and lessons learned during the pandemic.

Maria Laura Costa, Renato Teixeira Souza, Jose Guilherme Cecatti, Sami L Gottlieb, Marie Delnord, Soe Soe Thwin, Ndema Abu Habib, Ronaldo Silva, Daniel Giordano, Anna Thorson and 17 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Reproductive health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

27 authors.

Maria Laura CostaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Campinas, Campjnas, São Paulo, Brazil. mlaura@unicamp.br.
Renato Teixeira SouzaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Campinas, Campjnas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Jose Guilherme CecattiDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Campinas, Campjnas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Sami L GottliebUNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Marie DelnordUNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Soe Soe ThwinUNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Ndema Abu HabibUNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Ronaldo SilvaUNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Daniel GiordanoUNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Anna ThorsonUNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Nathalie J BroutetUNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Edgardo AbalosCentro Rosarino de Estudios Perinatales (CREP), Rosario, Argentina.
Seni KouandaInstitut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Kwasi TorpeySchool of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Emefa ModeySchool of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Erlidia Llamas-ClarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines and Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines.
Sarah SaleemThe Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Saleem JessaniThe Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Marleen TemmermanAga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Ingrid GichereAga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Beth MainaAga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.
Henda TrikiInstitut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
Mariem GdouraInstitut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
Ibukun-Oluwa Omolade AbejirindeDalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Alejandro Orrico-SánchezVaccine Research Department of Fisabio-Public Health and Hospital Dr. Peset of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Sergio MunozUniversity de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
Edna KaraUNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Funding

World Health Organization 001World Health Organization A66012
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionA generic research protocol was developed for a prospective cohort study to allow systematic, harmonized data collection of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination during pregnancy on maternal, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes across different settings. This article describes the study conception, development, implementation, challenges, and key lessons learned within study sites across the world.

methodsThe protocol was implemented in 43 facilities in 10 countries during the pandemic, involving consecutive recruitment of over 16,000 pregnant or postpartum women. We evaluated selection of study sites, ethical approvals, staff recruitment and training, recruitment and follow-up, and incorporation of new elements over the course of the pandemic across the study sites.

resultsStudy implementation in multiple LMIC settings was feasible; however, major challenges included delays in study implementation due to ethical approval procedures and availability of testing for exposure assessment. Implementation of research during a constantly evolving pandemic context led to the need for amended protocols, adjusted sample sizes, new outcomes and variables, repeated review by the Ethical Committees and adapted laboratory protocols. For example, the first COVID-19 vaccines became available after the study had started, with the need to modify the data collection forms and serologic testing algorithm to allow incorporation of this information in the study structure and analysis.

conclusionStudy implementation during a pandemic in different countries and periods was challenging but is not only expected to provide important information on the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination on pregnancy, but also on conducting research during future outbreaks. More streamlined ethics reviews during pandemics, availability of generic protocols in advance, and sites in LMICs ready to activate in an outbreak, as opposed to triggering processes during a crisis, would be highly beneficial.

Indexed as

COVID-19Pregnancy Complications, InfectiousCOVID-19 VaccinesFemaleHumansPandemicsPregnancyProspective StudiesSARS-CoV-2World Health OrganizationCOVID-19 Vaccines

Identifiers

PMID41225622
PMCPMC12613380

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.