COVID-19 Pandemisi Sırasında ve Öncesinde (2014-2022) Yozgat İlinde Meydana Gelen Bebek Ölümlerinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Bebek ölümleri, sağlık sistemi ve toplumsal refahın en önemli göstergelerinden biridir. Bu çalışma, Yozgat ilinde COVID-19 pandemisi döneminde meydana gelen bebek ölümlerinin özelliklerini ve önceki yıllarla karşılaştırıldığında olası değişikliklerini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Yozgat İl Bebek Ölümleri Komisyonu verileri, standartlaştırılmış veri toplama formu aracılığıyla ayrıntılı olarak incelenmiştir. İstatistiksel anlamlılık düzeyi alfa=0,05 olarak kabul edilmiştir. Pandemi dönemindeki bebek ölümleri, önceki yıllarla karşılaştırıldığında; bebeğin cinsiyeti, doğum haftası, doğum ağırlığı, annenin gebeliği elde etme yöntemi, doğum şekli, gebelik takibi ve ölümün gerçekleştiği gebelik ayı açısından istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir fark göstermemiştir. Ancak, yeterli gebelik takibine (≥4 izlem) sahip gebelerin oranı pandemi öncesi döneme göre artmış ve bu artış istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmuştur (p=0,036). Bu bulgu, COVID-19’un sağlık hizmetlerine etkisi dikkate alındığında, riskli gebelik başvurularının da artmış olabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Bebek ölümlerinin yalnızca pandemi dönemi özelinde değil, önceki altı yıl ile karşılaştırmalı olarak incelenmesi olası değişikliklerin ve nedenlerinin daha sağlıklı değerlendirilmesine olanak sağlamıştır. Ulusal ve il düzeyindeki bebek ölümleri göstergelerinin bu bakış açısıyla değerlendirilmesi, bulgular arasındaki tutarlılık veya farklılıkların ortaya konması açısından önem taşımakta ve gelecekte olası pandemi koşullarında sağlık hizmeti planlamalarına katkı sunabilecek niteliktedir.

Keywords

• Bebek ölümü
• COVID-19
• pandemi

Examination of Infant Deaths Occurring in Yozgat Province During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Before (2014-2022)

Abstract

Infant mortality is a critical indicator of the health system and social well-being. This study aimed to examine the characteristics and any changes of infant deaths in Yozgat province, during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the preceding years. Yozgat Province Infant Mortality Commission data were examined in detail through a standardized data collection form. The limit of statistical significance was accepted as (alpha) 0.05. When the number of infant deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic period was evaluated by corresponding values of the pre-pandemic years, no statistically significant association was found with infants’ gender, birth week, birth weight, mothers’ method of conception, delivery method, pregnancy follow-up and the gestational month of infant’s death. The proportion of pregnant women with adequate pregnancy follow-up (i.e., 4 and above) increased compared to the pre-COVID-19 period and this increase was statistically significant (p = 0.036). It is noteworthy that the number of applications for possible risky pregnancies could have increased during the pandemic period, considering the impact of COVID-19 on health care services. Thus, it was valuable to interpret infant deaths in Yozgat province by comparing them with the previous 6 years, instead of examining them only during the pandemic period, with regards to possible changes, and examining their causes. Examining the national and provincial infant mortality indices from this perspective, with comparisons, would be a valuable practice in terms of consistency or heterogeneity of findings for better preparation against future pandemic-related service delivery planning.

Keywords

• Infant deaths
• COVID-19
• pandemic

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