The association of COVID-19 lockdowns with adverse birth and pregnancy outcomes in 28 high-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to review the association of lockdowns with adverse birth and pregnancy outcomes (ABPOs) and related inequalities, in high-income countries (HICs). Databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE/PubMed and Web of Science) were searched from 1 January 2019 to 22 June 2023 for original observational studies based in HICs that compared the rates of ABPOs, before and during lockdowns. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa tool for cohort studies. We ran random-effects meta-analyses and subgroup analyses per region, lockdown period, ethnicity group and deprivation level and adjusted for underlying temporal trends. A total of 132 studies were meta-analysed from 28 HICs. Reduced rates of preterm birth (reported by 26 studies) were associated with

SUBMITTER: Hindes I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12283399 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature