| CONCEPTS AND ISSUES |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 23
| Issue : 2 | Page : 113-117 |
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Impact of COVID-19 on the care of pre-term babies: Issues, challenges and strategies for comprehensive care
K Kavitha1, Mallanagouda M Patil2, Basheerahamed J Sikandar3
1 Professor & Head, Department of Child Health Nursing, B.L.D.E.A's Shri B. M. Patil Institute of Nursing Sciences, Vijayapur, Karnataka, India
2 Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Child Health Nursing, B.L.D.E.A's Shri B. M. Patil Institute of Nursing Sciences, Vijayapur, Karnataka, India
3 Professor, Department of Child Health Nursing, B.L.D.E.A's Shri B. M. Patil Institute of Nursing Sciences, Vijayapur, Karnataka, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. K Kavitha
Department of Child Health Nursing, B.L.D.E.A's Shri B. M. Patil Institute of Nursing Sciences, Vijayapur, Karnataka
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/ijcn.ijcn_94_21
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The impact of the pandemic on maternal and newborn health-care services is problematic given the target of sustainable developmental goals. The present review was undertaken to assess the status of pre-term care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The literature search was done using various databases. Standard guidelines were followed to extract, synthesise and report the findings. A total of 20 articles that met the selection criteria were included in the review. The recent research threw light on the decrease in antenatal care services and the increase in pre-term birth during the pandemic lockdown period. Pre-term babies are more vulnerable to infections and development-associated morbidities. During the beginning of the pandemic, there were no clear guidelines regarding the dos and don'ts of pre-term care and policies that were evidence-based that resulted in the disruption of routine care within a chaotic environment. Currently, child welfare agencies and governmental and non-governmental health-care organisations are undertaking vigorous research and providing updates on the care of pre-term babies. As updates on newborn care policies based on research emerged, the continuation of breastfeeding, promotion of rooming-in, hygienic practices, digital-based health care, counseling and follow-up care were advocated for promoting pre-term babies' health and reducing morbidity and mortality. Capacity-building of the health workforce in managing pre-term babies during the pandemic period is crucial. More research is warranted to face such kind of situations in the future also. Above all, there is an urgent need for multi-sectorial and multi-disciplinary coordination in rendering essential services to the most vulnerable population i.e. pre-term babies.
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