Impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health care services in Phuentsholing General Hospital: A retrospective descriptive study

BACKGROUND: COVID‐19 pandemic has derailed health care services. The health resources and manpower were prioritized and diverted to curb the COVID‐19 infections at the cost of routine medical services to the people. The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on maternal and child health is unknown. This study aimed to assess the impact of the Covid‐19 pandemic on maternal and child health care services in Phuentsholing General Hospital. METHODS: A descriptive retrospective study was conducted at Phuentsholing General Hospital from January 1 to June 30, 2022. The patient medical records were reviewed for the prepandemic years 2018, and 2019, and the pandemic years 2020, and 2021. The medical records of all the female patients and newborns who came to the Maternal and Child Health Unit (MCH), those who were admitted to the gynecology ward, and who underwent obstetrical and gynecological surgeries were reviewed. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to describe the study variables. The line graph and bar graph were used to determine the trends and to compare the impact of COVID‐19 on MCH services between the pre‐pandemic and pandemic years. RESULTS: During the COVID‐19 pandemic, the total admission dropped by 10% to 14.4%; the total deliveries dropped by 16.1%; Cesarean section rate dropped to 12.9%; and fewer gynecological surgeries were performed (13.9% from 20.6%). There was a significant drop in antenatal and postnatal follow‐up visits (31.5% and 24.51%) respectively; Pap smear dropped by 93% and colposcopy by 52%. The overall immunization coverage has dropped drastically during the pandemic period. CONCLUSION: The pregnant mothers and newborn babies missed antenatal and postnatal follow‐up visits, missed immunization, and women were not able to be screened for cervical cancers during the pandemic. These negative impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic on maternal and child health care were profound.