Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on birth rate and neonatal health of Hospital Español at Mexico City
Jimena Estandía-Espinosa 1 
, Daniel Ortiz-Morales 2 , Ariane E. Weiser-Smeke 3 , Lucía Escobedo-Berumen 4 , Alejandra Márquez-Parra 5, Víctor M. Pacheco-Beltrán 6 , Horacio Silva-Ramírez 5, Jorge Loría-Castellanos 7
1 Facultad Mexicana de Medicina, Universidad La Salle México, Ciudad de México, México; 2 Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital General de México Dr. Eduardo Liceaga, Ciudad de México, México; 3 División de Salud Reproductiva, Centro de Reproducción Arcos, NASCERE, Ciudad de México, México; 4 Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Ángeles Lomas, Ciudad de México., México; 5 División de Pediatría, Hospital Español de México, Ciudad de México, México; 6 Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Anáhuac México Campus Norte, Ciudad de México, México; 7 Coordinación de Proyectos Especiales en Salud, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, México
*Correspondence: Jimena Estandía-Espinosa. Email: jimena.estandia@gmail.com
Abstract
Background: The COVID-9 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has profoundly affected global health and well-being. One less explored aspect is its impact on birth rates and neonatal health, with studies presenting varying results based on specific socioeconomic, cultural, and public health factors.
Objective: To analyze the impact of COVID-19 on birth rates and neonatal health at the Hospital Español, focusing on trends in births and perinatal outcomes.
Material and methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on neonates born at the Hospital Espanol from March 2019 to February 2022. Statistical tests, including Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Kruskal-Wallis, were applied for detailed analysis of quantitative variables, along with Bonferroni post hoc testing to identify differences between groups.
Results: During the analysis period, a total of 4,866 births were recorded. The median number of births per week was compared across different periods: 35.62 in the pre-pandemic period and 34.43, 25.58, 27.82, and 28.4 during the first, second, third, and fourth waves, respectively. A significant difference in births across periods was found (p < 0.000), with a notable decline during the second and third waves.
Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted on birth rates and neonatal health at Hospital Español, with a marked decrease in births during the second and third waves. Additionally, important changes were observed, including an increase in cesarean sections and variations in gestational age. These findings highlight the need to investigate the impact of health crises on maternal and child health for future policy and emergency care strategies.
