Changes in preterm birth and stillbirth during COVID-19 lockdowns in 26 countries.

Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of infant mortality worldwide. Changes in PTB rates, ranging from -90% to +30%, were reported in many countries following early COVID-19 pandemic response measures ('lockdowns'). It is unclear whether this variation reflects real differences in lockdown impacts, or perhaps differences in stillbirth rates and/or study designs. Here we present interrupted time series and meta-analyses using harmonized data from 52 million births in 26 countries, 18 of which had representative population-based data, with overall PTB rates ranging from 6% to 12% and stillbirth ranging from 2.5 to 10.5 per 1,000 births. We show small reductions in PTB in the first (odds ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.95-0.98, P value <0.0001), second (0.96, 0.92-0.99, 0.03) and third (0.97, 0.94-1.00, 0.09) months of lockdown, but not in the fourth month of lockdown (0.99, 0.96-1.01, 0.34), although there were some between-country differences after the first month. For high-income countries in this study, we did not observe an association between lockdown and stillbirths in the second (1.00, 0.88-1.14, 0.98), third (0.99, 0.88-1.12, 0.89) and fourth (1.01, 0.87-1.18, 0.86) months of lockdown, although we have imprecise estimates due to stillbirths being a relatively rare event. We did, however, find evidence of increased risk of stillbirth in the first month of lockdown in high-income countries (1.14, 1.02-1.29, 0.02) and, in Brazil, we found evidence for an association between lockdown and stillbirth in the second (1.09, 1.03-1.15, 0.002), third (1.10, 1.03-1.17, 0.003) and fourth (1.12, 1.05-1.19, <0.001) months of lockdown. With an estimated 14.8 million PTB annually worldwide, the modest reductions observed during early pandemic lockdowns translate into large numbers of PTB averted globally and warrant further research into causal pathways

Changes in preterm birth and stillbirth during COVID-19 lockdowns in 26 countries.

Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of infant mortality worldwide. Changes in PTB rates, ranging from -90% to +30%, were reported in many countries following early COVID-19 pandemic response measures ('lockdowns'). It is unclear whether this variation reflects real differences in lockdown impacts, or perhaps differences in stillbirth rates and/or study designs. Here we present interrupted time series and meta-analyses using harmonized data from 52 million births in 26 countries, 18 of which had representative population-based data, with overall PTB rates ranging from 6% to 12% and stillbirth ranging from 2.5 to 10.5 per 1,000 births. We show small reductions in PTB in the first (odds ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.95-0.98, P value <0.0001), second (0.96, 0.92-0.99, 0.03) and third (0.97, 0.94-1.00, 0.09) months of lockdown, but not in the fourth month of lockdown (0.99, 0.96-1.01, 0.34), although there were some between-country differences after the first month. For high-income countries in this study, we did not observe an association between lockdown and stillbirths in the second (1.00, 0.88-1.14, 0.98), third (0.99, 0.88-1.12, 0.89) and fourth (1.01, 0.87-1.18, 0.86) months of lockdown, although we have imprecise estimates due to stillbirths being a relatively rare event. We did, however, find evidence of increased risk of stillbirth in the first month of lockdown in high-income countries (1.14, 1.02-1.29, 0.02) and, in Brazil, we found evidence for an association between lockdown and stillbirth in the second (1.09, 1.03-1.15, 0.002), third (1.10, 1.03-1.17, 0.003) and fourth (1.12, 1.05-1.19, <0.001) months of lockdown. With an estimated 14.8 million PTB annually worldwide, the modest reductions observed during early pandemic lockdowns translate into large numbers of PTB averted globally and warrant further research into causal pathways

An assessment of hand hygiene perception and practices among undergraduate nursing students in Lagos State: A pilot study

BACKGROUND: The contaminated hands of health-care professionals (HCPs) is an implicated vector in the transmission of potentially pathogenic organisms to vulnerable patients. The aim of this study was to derive baseline data on hand hygiene (HH) practices among a cohort of students at the Lagos State School of Nursing and to determine their perception about the adequacy of instructions they receive. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on a probability random sample of 69 nursing students at the Lagos State School of Nursing at the Alimosho Igando General Hospital. The knowledge, attitude, and practice as well as the perception of the respondents on the adequacy of their infection control instructions were obtained using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data entry and analysis were done using SPSS software version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were done to assess which factors were truly significant predictors, with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) specified as the measures of association between predictors and outcome variables. RESULTS: Majority of participants were ≤20 years old (50.7%, n = 35) and were in their second year of study (44.9%, n = 31). Participants were least knowledgeable about the importance of discarding gloves and not washing or reusing them (16 [23.1%]). The mean score on the Hand Hygiene Beliefs Scale was 86.2 ± 9.0, with scores ranging from 23 to 88 out of a possible high score of 115. The most positive health beliefs were associated with being a role model for HH (3.57 ± 0.52), while the worst was associated with imitating bad HH practices performed by senior colleagues (1.29 ± 1.20). Caring for a wound (60 [87.0%]) was most associated with the need for HH, while demonstration and clinical practice were rated as the most effective teaching methods. Results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis, with the outcome variable of good self-reported HH practices, revealed that the odds of appropriate behavior were higher if the student nurses were in their third year of study (OR = 1.59; 95% CI: 1.01–2.45). An appropriate behavior was also more likely in student nurses with a higher risk perception (OR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.03–2.51). CONCLUSION: Despite the overwhelming evidence that HH is effective in the prevention of hospital-acquired infections, its performance among HCPs remains far less than optimal. Since students will someday be influencing future HH compliance behaviors of other health-care workers, the importance of HH should be adequately incorporated into their school curriculum

Relevance of the jaundice meter in determining significant bilirubin levels in term neonates at a tertiary hospital in Lagos State

Background and Aim: Jaundice is the yellowish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes or the visible manifestation as a result of elevated serum bilirubin. With spectroscopic tools now available, it is possible to assess the skin's condition by quantitative measures and to access information from deeper layers of skin not visible to the eye. The aim of this study was to determine the relevance of the jaundice meter in determining significant bilirubin levels in term neonates at a tertiary hospital in Lagos State using the Konica Minolta JM-103. Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifty consecutive neonates who presented at the neonatal unit of the hospital were recruited for the study after checking them with set inclusion and exclusion criteria. The transcutaneous bilirubinometry (TcB) readings of the neonates were taken on the forehead, sternum, and abdomen of the calm neonate in a supine position, and blood samples for total serum bilirubin (TSB) estimation were drawn from a peripheral vein within 10 min of TcB measurement. Pearson's correlation analysis with linear regression was done to test the relationship between TSB and TcB values as well as for TcB measurements taken at different sites. Results: The difference between the bilirubin values measured with TcB and TSB was low, with 104 neonates (69.3%) having a difference that was 12 mg/dl was 45.2% compared with 56.8% obtained by TcB. In the present study, bilirubin levels measured with the JM-103 show a good agreement with TSB levels in the study neonates. A comparison of the extent of neonatal jaundice in our study at the different body sites using the Kramer's chart showed that there were similar mean recordings for TcB and TSB, with mean values of 10.27 ± 2.90 and 10.58 ± 2.90 for involvement of the face/neck and 18.34 ± 1.61 and 18.43 ± 1.42 for hand/feet obtained by TSB and TcB, respectively. Conclusion: The excellent correlation of TcB with TSB obtained from this study even at levels of bilirubin that necessitates the initiation of phototherapy is encouraging. The JM-103 device thus appears relevant in determining significant bilirubinemia in black neonates

Clinical and sociodemographic correlates of neonatal jaundice at a tertiary health facility in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Varied aetiologies have been proposed for the prevalence of neonatal jaundice (NNJ) in different parts of Nigeria. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical and sociodemographic correlates of NNJ in a cohort of neonates presenting at a Tertiary health Facility in Lagos, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifty consecutive neonates that presented at the neonatal unit of the hospital were enlisted for the study after checking them with set inclusion and exclusion criteria. The transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) readings of the individuals were obtained on the forehead, sternum and abdomen of the calm neonate in a supine position and blood samples for total serum bilirubin estimation were drawn from a peripheral vein within 10 min of TcB measurement. Results: One hundred and fifty neonates were included in the study of which 89 (59.33%) were males and 61 (40.67%) were females. Mothers that had only a primary level of education had babies that presented with significantly higher bilirubin values (P = 0.000). Male neonates, those that presented after 48 h, those between 40 and 42 weeks' gestational age and those that were <2.5 kg birth weight also had higher values though it was not statistically significant. Those that were delivered at home or in a church, delivered by an auxiliary nurse or a traditional birth attendant and those with jaundice extending to the sole of the feet also presented with significantly higher mean bilirubin scores (P = 0.000). Conclusion: Majority of individuals in this study with NNJ were males, while those delivered at home or in a church or by traditional birth attendants and auxiliary nurses and had mothers that were poorly educated had higher mean bilirubin values. It is thus imperative that advocacy is increased to intervene on modifiable risk factors for this condition

Changes in preterm birth and stillbirth during COVID-19 lockdowns in 26 countries.

Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of infant mortality worldwide. Changes in PTB rates, ranging from -90% to +30%, were reported in many countries following early COVID-19 pandemic response measures ('lockdowns'). It is unclear whether this variation reflects real differences in lockdown impacts, or perhaps differences in stillbirth rates and/or study designs. Here we present interrupted time series and meta-analyses using harmonized data from 52 million births in 26 countries, 18 of which had representative population-based data, with overall PTB rates ranging from 6% to 12% and stillbirth ranging from 2.5 to 10.5 per 1,000 births. We show small reductions in PTB in the first (odds ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.95-0.98, P value <0.0001), second (0.96, 0.92-0.99, 0.03) and third (0.97, 0.94-1.00, 0.09) months of lockdown, but not in the fourth month of lockdown (0.99, 0.96-1.01, 0.34), although there were some between-country differences after the first month. For high-income countries in this study, we did not observe an association between lockdown and stillbirths in the second (1.00, 0.88-1.14, 0.98), third (0.99, 0.88-1.12, 0.89) and fourth (1.01, 0.87-1.18, 0.86) months of lockdown, although we have imprecise estimates due to stillbirths being a relatively rare event. We did, however, find evidence of increased risk of stillbirth in the first month of lockdown in high-income countries (1.14, 1.02-1.29, 0.02) and, in Brazil, we found evidence for an association between lockdown and stillbirth in the second (1.09, 1.03-1.15, 0.002), third (1.10, 1.03-1.17, 0.003) and fourth (1.12, 1.05-1.19, <0.001) months of lockdown. With an estimated 14.8 million PTB annually worldwide, the modest reductions observed during early pandemic lockdowns translate into large numbers of PTB averted globally and warrant further research into causal pathways

Changes in preterm birth and stillbirth during COVID-19 lockdowns in 26 countries

Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of infant mortality worldwide. Changes in PTB rates, ranging from -90% to +30%, were reported in many countries following early COVID-19 pandemic response measures ('lockdowns'). It is unclear whether this variation reflects real differences in lockdown impacts, or perhaps differences in stillbirth rates and/or study designs. Here we present interrupted time series and meta-analyses using harmonized data from 52 million births in 26 countries, 18 of which had representative population-based data, with overall PTB rates ranging from 6% to 12% and stillbirth ranging from 2.5 to 10.5 per 1,000 births. We show small reductions in PTB in the first (odds ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.95-0.98, P value <0.0001), second (0.96, 0.92-0.99, 0.03) and third (0.97, 0.94-1.00, 0.09) months of lockdown, but not in the fourth month of lockdown (0.99, 0.96-1.01, 0.34), although there were some between-country differences after the first month. For high-income countries in this study, we did not observe an association between lockdown and stillbirths in the second (1.00, 0.88-1.14, 0.98), third (0.99, 0.88-1.12, 0.89) and fourth (1.01, 0.87-1.18, 0.86) months of lockdown, although we have imprecise estimates due to stillbirths being a relatively rare event. We did, however, find evidence of increased risk of stillbirth in the first month of lockdown in high-income countries (1.14, 1.02-1.29, 0.02) and, in Brazil, we found evidence for an association between lockdown and stillbirth in the second (1.09, 1.03-1.15, 0.002), third (1.10, 1.03-1.17, 0.003) and fourth (1.12, 1.05-1.19, <0.001) months of lockdown. With an estimated 14.8 million PTB annually worldwide, the modest reductions observed during early pandemic lockdowns translate into large numbers of PTB averted globally and warrant further research into causal pathways