Prevalence and Risk Factors of Neonatal Covid-19 Infection: A Single-Centre Observational Study

Background This study is to estimate the prevalence and to determine the risk factors for neonatal Covid-19 infection Methods Retrospective analysis of all deliveries in Covid-19-infected mothers in a tertiary care centre in North Kerala from 15 April 2020 to 15 October 2020 Results Of the 350 Covid-19-positive pregnancies 223 delivered, two were intrauterine foetal demises. In total, 32 out of 221 newborns were Covid-19-positive (14.47%). The risk was more in vaginal delivery group (17.39%) compared to caesarean group (13.16%). The breastfeeding and rooming-in group (18.79%) had more infection than those babies who were not breastfed and separated from mother (1.78%).14 out of 86 (16.28%) babies delivered within 7 days of mothers turning negative became positive compared to 2 out of 23 (8.7%) babies delivered between 7 and 14 days of negative result (Odds ratio of 2.04). None of the babies delivered 14 days after negative result has become positive. Conclusions The present study shows that neonatal Covid-19 infection is not rare. The risk is greater in vaginal delivery group and those babies who are breastfed and allowed to stay with mothers. Delaying delivery more than 7 days after mother becoming negative protects the newborn from getting infection