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. 2023 Feb 25;4(1):4.
doi: 10.53388/idr2023004. Epub 2023 Feb 15.

The impact of COVID-19 on the birth rate in Nigeria: a report from population-based registries

Charlotte Blanche Oguejiofor  1 , Kenechi Miracle Ebubechukwu  2 , George Uchenna Eleje  1   3 , Emmanuel Onyebuchi Ugwu  4   5 , Joseph Tochukwu Enebe  6 , Kingsley Emeka Ekwuazi  4   5 , Chukwuemeka Chukwubuikem Okoro  1 , Boniface Chukwuneme Okpala  1   3 , Charles Chukwunomunso Okafor  7 , Nnanyelugo Chima Ezeora  6 , Emeka Ifeanyi Iloghalu  4   5 , Chidebe Christian Anikwe  1 , Chigozie Geoffrey Okafor  1 , Polycarp Uchenna Agu  4   5 , Emeka Philip Igbodike  8 , Iffiyeosuo Dennis Ake  9 , Arinze Anthony Onwuegbuna  10 , Osita Samuel Umeononihu  1 , Onyedika Promise Anaedu  1 , Odigonma Zinobia Ikpeze  1 , David Chibuike Ikwuka  11 , Henry Ifeanyi Nwaolisa  1 , Ekene Agatha Emeka  12 , Jude Ogechukwu Okoye  13 , Ihechinyerem Kelechi Osuagwu  14 , Angela Ogechukwu Ugwu  15 , Toochukwu Benjamin Ejikeme  1 , Eziamaka Pauline Ezenkwele  4   5 , Chijioke Ogomegbunam Ezeigwe  1 , Malarchy Ekwunife Nwankwo  1 , Gerald Okanandu Udigwe  1   2 , Joseph Ifeanyichukwu Ikechebelu  1   3 , Grace Agbaeze  16 , Chukwuebuka Divine Nwanja  17 , Ahizechukwu Chigoziem Eke  18
Affiliations

The impact of COVID-19 on the birth rate in Nigeria: a report from population-based registries

Charlotte Blanche Oguejiofor et al. Infect Dis Res. .

Abstract

Background and objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic that has become a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide, affecting the physical and mental health of individuals influencing reproduction. Despite the threat, it poses to maternal health in sub-Saharan Africa and Nigeria, there is little or no data on the impact it has on fertility, conception, gestation and birth. To compare the birth rate between pre-COVID and COVID times using selected months of the year.

Materials and methods: This was a secondary analysis of cross-sectional analytical study data from the birth registries of three tertiary hospitals, comparing two years [2019 (Pre-COVID)] versus [2020 (COVID era)] using three months of the year (October to December). The data relied upon was obtained from birth registries in three busy maternity clinics all within tertiary hospitals in South-East Nigeria and we aimed at discussing the potential impacts of COVID-19 on fertility in Nigeria. The secondary outcome measures were; mode of delivery, booking status of the participants, maternal age and occupation.

Results: There was a significant decrease in tertiary-hospital based birth rate by 92 births (P = 0.0009; 95% CI: -16.0519 to -4.1481) among mothers in all the three hospitals in 2020 during the COVID period (post lockdown months) of October to December. There was a significant difference in the mode of delivery for mothers (P = 0.0096) with a 95% confidence interval of 1.0664 to 1.5916, as more gave birth through vaginal delivery during the 2020 COVID-19 period than pre-COVID-19.

Conclusion: Tertiary-hospital based birth rates were reduced during the pandemic. Our multi-centre study extrapolated on possible factors that may have played a role in this decline in their birth rate, which includes but is not limited to; decreased access to hospital care due to the total lockdowns/curfews and worsening inflation and economic recession in the country.

Keywords: COVID-19; Nigeria; birth rates; lockdown; pandemic; pre-COVID.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Total number of births during the study period
Figure 2
Figure 2. The occupation of participants.
NYSC, National Youth
Figure 3
Figure 3
Age of delivery during the pre-pandemic
Figure 4
Figure 4
Age of delivery during the pandemic
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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