Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Maternal Outcomes in Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Case Control Study

Abstract

Pregnant women infected with COVID-19 may experience increased maternal morbidity because of pregnancy-related physiological and immunological changes. Evidence from Saudi Arabia remains limited, particularly regarding maternal clinical outcomes among infected and non-infected pregnant women. The main aim of this study was to examine the association between COVID-19 infection during pregnancy and selected maternal outcomes among women who gave birth in Taif, Saudi Arabia. A quantitative retrospective case-control design was conducted at King Faisal Hospital in Taif, Saudi Arabia. The study involved 170 women (85 with confirmed COVID-19 and 85 women without COVID-19 infection). Data were extracted retrospectively from medical records using a structured maternal outcomes checklist adapted from Elsaddig & Khalil (2021). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participants’ characteristics, and chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests were used to examine association between COVID-19 status and maternal outcomes. Statistical significance was set at P<.o5. COVID-19 infection was significantly associated with mode of delivery, headache, pain, intensive care unit admission, intubation , respiratory distress and discharge outcome. No statistically significant association were observed for excessive bleeding, postpartum hemorrhage, deep vein thrombosis, postpartum depression, infection, or length of hospitalization. COVID-19 infection during pregnancy was associated with several adverse maternal outcomes, particularly respiratory complications and increased clinical interventions. Early identification, close antenatal surveillance, and evidence-based management pathways are essential to reduce maternal morbidity among pregnant women with COVID-19.