Sexual and reproductive health is a significant public health issue during epidemics, and safe pregnancy and childbirth depends on functioning health systems and strict adherence to infection precautions. Pregnant women should take the same preventive actions to avoid infection recommended for all adults, IPN reports, making reference to a press release of UNFPA Moldova.
“While fear and uncertainty are natural responses to the coronavirus, we must be guided by facts and solid information,” said Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). “We must stand together in solidarity, fight stigma and discrimination, and ensure that people get the information and services they need, especially pregnant and lactating women.”
UNFPA, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, said that to date, there is no scientific evidence about the increased susceptibility of pregnant women to COVID-19. However, pregnancy brings physical changes that might make some pregnant women more susceptible to viral respiratory infections. Pregnant women with respiratory illnesses must be treated with the utmost priority due to increased risk of adverse outcomes.
According to the press release, pregnant women should avoid close contact with anyone who is coughing and sneezing, washing hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub, covering mouth and nose with a tissue or elbow when coughing and sneezing, and thoroughly cooking meat and eggs.
At this time, there is not yet a vaccine to prevent or treatment to cure the virus but there is recommended treatment for the symptoms. Treatment for pregnant women with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection should be provided with the supportive therapies recommended by WHO for adult patients in close consultation with their OB/GYN.
Breastfeeding women should not be separated from their newborns, as there is no evidence to show that respiratory viruses can be transmitted through breast milk, according to UNICEF. The mother can continue breastfeeding, as long as the necessary precautions below are applied: symptomatic mothers well enough to breastfeed should wear a mask when near a child, wash hands before and after contact with the child, and clean/disinfect contaminated surfaces.
If a mother is too ill to breastfeed, she should be encouraged to express milk that can be given to the child via a clean cup and/or spoon – while wearing a mask, washing hands before and after contact with the child, and cleaning/disinfecting contaminated surfaces. Provision of mental health and psychosocial support for affected individuals, families, communities and health workers is a critical part of the response.
UNFPA is closely monitoring and working with partners, governments and UN agencies to address the outbreak of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO).
