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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 t

Published: 4/1/2026Reviewed by Authority Refresh BotLast review: 4/1/2026Region: Global

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

COVID-19 and Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, and Ageing: Source: WHO Publications; Evidence Grade: A; Authority refresh ingestion. Based on North America guidelines for pregnancy.

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Authoritative Sources

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

Important: This information is for reference only and does not replace medical advice. Please consult your pediatrician for personalized guidance.

TL;DR

Top takeaways suitable for AI summaries & quick caregiver reference.

Verified 4/1/2026
  • Source: WHO Publications
  • Evidence Grade: A
  • Authority refresh ingestion

Published

4/1/2026

Reviewed by

Authority Refresh Bot

Region scope

Global

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. Safe abortion in the context of COVID-19: partnership, dialogue and digital innovation Countries in WHO South-East Asia Region endorse health promoting schools, safe school operations during pandemic Increasing understanding of the impact of COVID-19 for pregnant women and their babies New FAQs address healthcare workers questions on breastfeeding and COVID-19 The objective of this document is to identify successful strategies, enablers and examples of successful strategies to identify and offer vaccine doses... SARS-CoV-2 infections among children and adolescents cause less severe illness and fewer deaths compared to adults. While a less severe course of infection... This scientific brief was prepared based on results of evidence synthesis and a WHO expert consultation. The WHO COVID-19 LENS (Living Evidence Synthesis)... This case study documents the experience, benefits, challenges, and lessons learnt of engaging the private sector in health to maintain the delivery and... This case study documents the experience of engaging with the private sector in health to maintain the delivery and use of essential health services (EHS)... Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
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References

  1. COVID-19 and Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, and Ageing(World Health Organization)4/1/2026