Authors: Shaherzad Sohail , Lubna Raiz Dar

Abstract

Background and Objective: Infectious disease outbreak caused by novel Coronavirus is a global public health concern. In this pandemic, pregnant women are high risk population. Knowledge and data on the effect of this COVID-19 disease on pregnant females and their newborns is limited. Number of cases is increasing day by day. Aim of the current study was to provide evidence-based knowledge related to effects of Coronavirus on pregnancy to improve the understanding of the COVID-19 disease. Methods: This is a systematic review, carried out in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Shalamar Medical and Dental College, Lahore. The available published research data from January 1st 2020 to May 13th 2020, on the effects of Coronavirus in pregnancy was collected. On the basis of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines the articles in English were selected from electronic databases PubMed and Goggle scholar. Results: The information gathered is organized in five main themes namely; Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 during pregnancy, risk of vertical transmission, issues related to breast feeding, care during antenatal period and labor and strategies for prevention. The main concern is to focus on best clinical practices for care of pregnant females. Conclusion: Clinical manifestations of Coronavirus infection in pregnant females are not different from general population. There is on strong evidence of risk of vertical transmission. Best antenatal care and care during labor is the right of all pregnant females whether suspected or infected and it must be according to the standardized guidelines. Breast feeding is encouraged either with full protection of transmission of droplet infection or my expressing milk manually. Vaginal delivery is safe and preventive strategies for the disease available for general population must be adapted by the pregnant women also to avoid getting the infection.

Keywords: COVID-19, Pandemic, Pregnancy, PRISMA, FIGO.