Publication date: Jun 25, 2025

This study aimed to assess the effects of COVID-19 on birth outcomes for women in Alabama by comparing data from pre-pandemic years (2018 and 2019) to post-pandemic years (2021 and 2022). Retrospective cohort study with network analysis. The study used a retrospective cohort design to compare maternal and birth outcomes before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, with network analysis employed to evaluate changes in the complexity of multimorbidity interactions during these two periods. Maternal health metrics, including maternal age, number of prenatal visits, weight at delivery, number of morbidities, BMI, gestational diabetes, hypertension, premature births, and NICU admissions, were analyzed to assess changes between pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and post-pandemic (2021-2022) periods. Ethnicity disparities, particularly among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black mothers, were evaluated in relation to BMI, comorbidities, and previous cesarean rates. The analysis revealed significant changes in maternal health metrics during the pandemic. Post-pandemic, average maternal age increased from 27. 45 to 27. 80 years (p

Semantics

Original Article