AFJOG

African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology | Volume 3 | Issue 2 | 2025 | 28 ORIGINAL RESEARCH African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology | Volume 3 | Issue 2 | 2025 | The impact of the Covid -19 pandemic on Obstetric care in a resource limited setting: A 12- month retrospective chart review SamplingStrategy, Statistical Planning, andSample Size Convenience sampling was used. All records documented as referrals, admissions, and deliveries, with complete information, within the specified time periods were analysed. Data Collection Files were retrieved from the medical registry. Information on participant demographics, antenatal history, delivery history, neonatal outcomes, obstetric outcomes, and maternal comorbidities were captured using a data collection tool. Data was collected for both time periods as specified above. Data Analysis Techniques and Statistical Analysis The data was analysed using STATA version 18 (StataCorp LLC). Descriptive statistics were computed for all variables, and categorical data presented as numbers and percentages. A two-sample test of proportions was conducted to determine whether there was a significant change in proportions during the two study periods. A p-value of ≤0.05 was deemed statistically significant. Ethical Consent Data was extracted from the patient files by the principal investigator and a research assistant. No files were taken out of the hospital premises and were only seen and handled by the principal investigator. Patient names and personal information were not included in the data collection tool, but a patient number was used instead. Patient anonymity was maintained at all times, and ethical permission to conduct the study was obtained at three separate levels; the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Department of Health (approval number: KZ_202107_027), Grey’s Hospital – Office of the CEO, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal Biomedical Research Ethics Committee (BREC) (approval number: BREC/00003056/2021). RESULTS Study population profile Before thepandemic, therewerea total of 1397patients referred to Grey’s Hospital. Of those, 1157 (82.8%) of patient’s records were used in our study. During the pandemic, 1255 patients were referred to the hospital, with 919 (73.2%) patient’s records being included in the study. There was about a 10% decrease in the number of referrals during the pandemic (Figure 1). Figure 1: Profile of patient files included in the study Black Africans were the most common race seen before (n=1099, 95.0%) and during (n=870, 94.7%) the pandemic. Women aged 19-34 were the most common, before (n=854, 73.8) and during (69.5%) the pandemic. Patients of South-African nationality were mostly in attendance before (n=1132, 97.8%) and during (n=891, 97.0%) the pandemic, with most of them being unemployed before (n=912, 78.8%) and during (764, 83.1%) (Table 1). Table 1: Demographic characteristics of mothers attending Grey's Hospital before (1 March 2019 – 29 February 2020) and during (1 March 2020 – 28 February 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic Pre-Covid Peri-Covid P- Value a Frequency (n) Percentage (%) Frequency (n) Percentage (%) Race Black 440 38.0 319 35.6 0.50 Indian 34 2.9 29 3.2 0.95 White 11 1.0 9 1.0 >0.99 Coloured 13 1.1 11 1.2 0.98 Total 1157 100.0 919 100.0 Age (years) ≤18 48 4.2 74 8.1 0.40 19-34 854 73.8 639 69.5 0.07 >35 255 22.0 206 22.4 0.92 Total 1157 100.0 919 100.0 Nationality South African 1132 97.8 891 97.0 0.26 Non-South African 25 2.2 28 3.0 0.86 Total 1157 100.0 919 100.0 Occupation Unemployed 912 78.8 764 83.1 0.03 Employed 245 21.2 155 16.9 0.29 Total 1157 100.0 919 100.0 ≤ Most patients were admitted during the second trimester before (52.1%) and during (53.3%) the pandemic. Parity 2-4 was common during both periods (68.1% and 65.1%). HIV-negative status was most frequent (65.1% before, 69.0% during), and most of the HIV-positive patients were virally suppressed (77.4% and 76.1%). Most had ≥5 routine visits (74.6% and 70.1%), two or fewer defaulted (94.7%, 93.4%), and rescheduled (95.0%, 93.9%) (Table 2). Table 2: Antenatal History of mothers attending Grey's Hospital before (1 March 2019 – 29 February 2020) and during (1 March 2020 – 28 February 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic Pre-Covid Peri-Covid P- Value a Frequency (n) Percentage (%) Frequency (n) Percentage (%) Gestation at Booking First trimester 440 38.0 319 35.6 0.50 records being included in the study. There was about a 10% decrease in the number of referrals during the pandemic ( Figure 1 ). Figure 1 : Profile of patient files included in the study