The modern organizational principles of specialized medical care for pregnant and puerperant women during the coronavirus pandemic in the Republic of Kazakhstan

The COVID-19 pandemic sweeping around the world has demanded the introduction of emergency lock-down measures, suspended the operation of enterprises, and led to the development of a systemic economic crisis. In a number of countries where governments have taken austerity preventive anti-epidemic measures, the situation could be controlled and a large number of viral infection victims could be prevented. The obstetric service has always been an area of increased responsibility for the life and health of the mother and her child. Each country has operating algorithms, protocols, standards, and guidelines. However, during the epidemic, it can be dangerous to implement the entire package of measures and procedures in the context of COVID-19 infection due to the need to visit outpatient and inpatient healthcare facilities and laboratories. Algorithms for managing pregnancy and childbirth are of particular importance during a viral pandemic. The paper gives an algorithm for the management of pregnant, parturient, and puerperant women with COVID-19 in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The algorithm has been elaborated by the authors on the basis of the experience of the countries that previously faced a true pandemic (China, Italy, and Spain). Along with the traditionally existing orders and recommendations, this algorithm has been introduced in women’s clinics and obstetric hospitals of various regionalization levels in order to preventatively respond to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and carriers among pregnant parturient, and puerperant women. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, as of September 1, 2020 COVID-19 cases were registered in 4851 women, of whom there were 3473 pregnant women and 1378 postpartum ones. Spontaneous childbirth occurred in 1247 (90.5%) women; caesarean section was performed in 131 (9.5%) cases. COVID-19 was confirmed in 124 (8.75%) of the 1,420 newborns; of whom 1116 (78.57%) infants were born to puerperas with the confirmed diagnosis and 304 (21.43%) were born to mothers with a negative COVID-19 test.

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus infection, pregnant women