Peer-reviewed article
Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on low birthweight in Soweto, South Africa
Roisin E. Drysdale, Wiedaad Slemming, Douglas J. Momberg, Rihlat Said Mohamed, Linda Richter ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study compared the rate of low birthweight babies born in Soweto before and during the COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa. Low birthweight increased from 4% before the pandemic to 11% among babies born during lockdown, suggesting the pandemic affected maternal health and birth outcomes. The researchers believe this could lead to stunting and poor development in affected children. The study included only babies born at full term with no birth complications.
Key points
- Low birthweight prevalence more than doubled during the pandemic (4% before, 11% during)
- Babies born during the pandemic were at higher risk of low birthweight despite being born at full term (≥37 weeks gestation)
- Pregnant women faced multiple pandemic-related stressors including fear of COVID transmission, heightened stress, and disrupted antenatal services
- Low birthweight at term could increase risk of child stunting and poor development
- Study used case-control design comparing 199 control pairs with 201 case pairs
Limitations
The study does not establish the exact mechanisms through which the pandemic caused low birthweight, only that an association exists. The research is limited to Soweto and may not reflect outcomes in other settings or countries.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pregnant women were indirectly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic owing to heightened stress, fear of mother-to-child transmission of COVID-19 and the disruption of antenatal health services. Increased stress and lack of antenatal healthcare could result in an increase in adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth or low birthweight. OBJECTIVES: Using a case-control design, to compare the prevalence of low birthweight among infants born before and during the pandemic in Soweto, South Africa. METHOD: Infants born before the pandemic and national lockdown were included in the control group, while infants who were in utero and born during the pandemic were included in the case group. Only infants born ≥37 weeks' gestation with no birth complications were included. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to determine whether the pandemic was associated with an increase in low birthweight. A birthweight <2.5 kg was classified as low birthweight. RESULTS: In total, 199 mother-infant pairs were included in the control group, with 201 mother-infant pairs in the case group. The prevalence of low birthweight was 4% in the control group and 11% in the case group, with those born during the pandemic at a higher risk of being of low birthweight. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of low birthweight in infants born ≥37 weeks' gestation during the pandemic could result in an increase in child stunting and poor development. Future research should measure early child development and growth in infants born during the pandemic to assess whether there is a need to intervene and provide additional support to minimise the negative effects.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Comparison of birth outcomes before and during COVID-19 lockdown (observational study of natural experiment)
- Population
- Pregnant women and infants in Soweto, South Africa; 199 mother-infant pairs before pandemic, 201 during pandemic
Key finding
Low birthweight prevalence was 4% in control group (pre-pandemic) versus 11% in case group (during pandemic)