COVID-19 and Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, and Ageing

Although the proportion of reported cases of  SARS-CoV-2 infection, severity and deaths from COVID-19  illness has been low in children and it appears that pregnancy and childbirth do not increase the risk for acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection, nor worsen the clinical course of COVID-19 compared with nonpregnant individuals of the same age the indirect impact of the COVID-19 there continues to be many questions about illness in children, child birth practices, breastfeeding, and school closures and openings and transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

To address this WHO has developed guidance, scientific briefs and is coordinating global research priorities in SRMNCAH.

The indirect impact of the COVID-19 may have a long lasting detrimental impact on the progress and improvements in SRMNCAH.  Increasing evidence is being documented that the direct response to limit the spread of SARS-COV-2 infection such as lockdowns and school closures, may have secondary psycho-social and economic consequences that particularly impact women and children.

Shortages of health personnel, equipment and supplies, closures of routine health services and fear of infection resulting in less use of health care services all can lead to increased mortality and morbidity from conditions other than COVID-19 illness. This is especially true for SRMNCAH interventions.

To address this WHO has worked with other UN agencies and partners to develop guidance on monitoring and assess potential impact of disruptions. Additionally, WHO is working with a key set of countries to mitigate the indirect impact of COVID-19.

This website contains all Information on these above activities.

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Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)