Impact of the Spread of COVID-19 on Maternal Examination Behaviors and the Burden on Delivery Facilities in Japan

To evaluate the impact of behavioral restrictions on perinatal care caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a questionnaire survey of 1976 medical institutions handling deliveries across Japan. The survey examined changes in the number of antenatal checkups due to behavioral restrictions, visit restrictions at medical institutions, and the acceptance of COVID-19-infected pregnant and nursing mothers. An increased burden was observed at delivery hospitals, irrespective of whether they accepted infected pregnant and nursing mothers. Some medical institutions were unable to manage infected pregnant women and transferred them to other facilities, highlighting the need for role-sharing among institutions. The number of antenatal checkups showed a decreasing trend, indicating that the pandemic negatively affected checkup attendance. However, no clear increase in perinatal deaths was observed during the observation period, despite the reduction in the number of checkups.