New research highlights the risks of separating newborns from mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic

New research from WHO and partners shows that the COVID-19 pandemic is seriously affecting the quality of care for young and sick newborns, resulting in unnecessary suffering and death.

A study conducted in the Lancet EclinicalMedicine Emphasizes the critical importance of ensuring that newborn babies have close contact with parents after birth, especially for those who are born too small (with low birth weight) or premature (premature). In many countries, however, newborn babies are regularly separated from their mothers if their COVID-19 infections are confirmed or suspected, causing a higher risk of death and lifelong health complications.

This is especially the case in the poorest countries where most premature births and infant deaths occur. According to the report, the interruptions of kangaroo maternal care – which involve close contact between a parent, usually a mother and a newborn baby – will exacerbate these risks.

Up to 125,000 babies’ lives can be saved with the full coverage of kangaroo mother care. For babies born prematurely or with a low birth weight, kangaroo maternal care (early, prolonged skin-to-skin contact with a parent and exclusive breastfeeding) is of utmost importance. Among infants born prematurely or with low birth weight, kangaroo maternal care has been shown to reduce infant mortality by as much as 40%, hypothermia by more than 70% and serious infections by 65%.

“Disruptions to essential health services during COVID-19 have seriously affected the quality of care for some of the most vulnerable babies, and this includes their right to the life-saving contact they need with their parents,” he said. Dr Anshu Banerjee, Director of Mother, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and aging at the WHO. “Decades of progress in reducing child mortality are being jeopardized unless we act now to protect and improve maternal and neonatal care services, and to expand coverage of life-saving interventions such as kangaroo maternal care.”

WHO recommends that mothers continue to share a room with their babies from birth and be able to breastfeed and make skin-to-skin contact – even if COVID-19 infections are suspected or confirmed is – and it should be supported to ensure appropriate infection prevention practices.

“Much more attention is needed to ensure that health professionals and policymakers worldwide are aware of the need to keep mothers and babies together in these critical early days, especially for babies born too small or premature,” he said. Queen Dube, Director of Health at Malawi Ministry of Health, one of the report writers. “Kangaroo Mother Care is one of our most cost-effective ways to protect small and sick newborns. According to our analysis, the risks far outweigh the small chance that a newborn baby could contract a serious illness due to COVID-19. ”

“Kangaroo maternity care is one of the best interventions to improve the chances of surviving a premature or low birth weight, especially in low-income countries,” she added.

Evidence suggests that interruptions in the care of a kangaroo mother may already occur worryingly wide. In a systematic review of 20 clinical guidelines from 17 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was found that a third separation of mothers and newborns is recommended if the mother has or may have COVID-19. In a global survey among thousands of neonatal health care providers, published today in a related article in the United States British Medical Journal (BMJ) World Health, two-thirds of health workers in 62 countries reported that they did not allow mothers with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 to engage in routine skin-to-skin contact, while nearly a quarter did not allow breastfeeding, even by uninfected caregivers. not.

Studies have reported mainly no symptoms or mild diseases of COVID-19 in infected newborns, with a low risk of neonatal death. This new study estimates that the risk of newborns capturing COVID-19 will result in fewer than 2,000 deaths.

However, infection during pregnancy can result in an increased risk of preterm birth, which means that it is even more important to ensure that proper care is given to maintain premature babies and their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the most recent estimates, 15 million babies are born prematurely each year (before 37 weeks) and 21 million are born with a low birth weight (under 2.5 kg). These infants face serious health risks, including disabilities, developmental delays, and infections, while prematurity-related complications are the leading causes of death for newborns and children under 5 years of age.

About the study

WHO authors contributed to the following paper: Premature care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparative risk analysis of neonatal deaths caused by kangaroo maternal care versus death due to SARS-CoV-2 infection in The Lancet Eclinical Medicine. A related study by the COVID-19 Small and Sick Newborn Care Collaborative Group is in the British medical journal, Small and ill newborn care during the COVID-19 pandemic: global survey and thematic analysis of voices and experiences of healthcare providers. BMJ GH. DOI: 10.1136 / bmjgh-2020-004347