Maternal and perinatal outcomes during the 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 pandemic

Pregnant women have a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and maternal infection with COVID-19 during pregnancy can also affect the health of their unborn baby (RANZCOG 2023).

COVID-19 infection can increase the risk of pregnant women requiring admission to hospital, admission to an intensive care unit and invasive ventilation (RANZCOG 2023). Maternal COVID-19 infection can also increase the risk of complications for the unborn baby including premature birth and stillbirth (RANZCOG 2023).

COVID-19 infection rates were relatively low in Australia compared with other countries and it is expected that rates were also low among pregnant women during 2020 and 2021; however, the COVID-19 infection status of women is not collected in the National Perinatal Data Collection.

Data from the National Maternal Mortality Data Collection show that in 2020 and 2021 there were no maternal deaths directly related to COVID-19 infection. However, there were a small number of deaths where measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, such as stay at home orders and COVID-19 screening requirements and associated clinical management, were listed as contributory factors for a maternal death.

The national vaccination program against COVID-19 commenced in Australia on 22 February 2021, starting with priority groups, such as frontline workers and at-risk populations (Department of Health and Aged Care 2021a). The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) released a joint statement on 9 June 2021 to support the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women and their babies (Department of Health and Aged Care 2021b).

The COVID-19 vaccination status of women included in this report is not known, as this information is not collected in the National Perinatal Data Collection. Data linkage could enable this to be explored in future.