Population birth data and pandemic readiness in Europe

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic exposed multiple shortcomings in national and international capacity to respond to an infectious disease outbreak. It is essential to learn from these deficiencies to prepare for future epidemics. One major gap is the limited availability of timely and comprehensive population-based routine data about COVID-19's impact on pregnant women and babies. As part of the Horizon 2020 PHIRI (Population Health Information Research Infrastructure) project on the use of population data for COVID-19 surveillance, the Euro-Peristat research network investigated the extent to which routine information systems could be used to assess the effects of the pandemic by constructing indicators of maternal and child health and of COVID-19 infection. The Euro-Peristat network brings together researchers and statisticians from 31 countries to monitor population indicators of perinatal health in Europe and periodically compiles data on a set of 10 core and 20 recommended indicators¹.

Figure 1

Availability of core perinatal health indicators in European countries overall and by source. When several sources were used to generate Euro‐Peristat data, we requested information on birth data that could be used to generate stillbirth, preterm and low birthweight rates (as opposed to neonatal or infant deaths, which may become available later). See Table S1 for data by country.