Am J Perinatol 2022; 39(15): 1711-1718
DOI: 10.1055/a-1787-6517
Original Article

Maternal Perinatal Telemonitoring in the Context of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in a Tertiary Health Center in Peru

Rommy H. Novoa
1   Obstetrics and Perinatology Department, High-Risk Pregnancy Unit, Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal, Lima, Peru
,
Luis Meza-Santibañez
2   Maternal and Perinatal Research Unit, Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal, Lima, Peru
3   School of Medicine “San Fernando,” Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
,
Wilder E. Melgarejo
4   School of Medicine “Alberto Hurtado”, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
,
Xin Huang-Yang
4   School of Medicine “Alberto Hurtado”, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
,
Enrique Guevara-Ríos
1   Obstetrics and Perinatology Department, High-Risk Pregnancy Unit, Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal, Lima, Peru
3   School of Medicine “San Fernando,” Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
,
Juan Torres-Osorio
5   Department of Statistics, Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal, Lima, Peru
,
Rosa Aponte-Laban
6   School of Midwifery, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
,
Vladimir Jáuregui-Canchari
5   Department of Statistics, Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal, Lima, Peru
,
Noe Rodríguez-Hilario
5   Department of Statistics, Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal, Lima, Peru
,
Walter Ventura 
7   Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Maternal and Fetal Medicine Unit, Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal, Lima, Peru
8   Fetal Medicine Unit, Clinica Anglo Americana, British Medical Hospital, Lima, Peru
› Author Affiliations Funding This study was funded by Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Tecnológico y de Innovación Tecnológico (FONDECYT) and Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica (CONCYTEC-PERU; Grant contract number 067-2020-Fondecyt).
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Abstract

Objective This study aimed to describe the characteristics of a telemonitoring program that was rapidly implemented in our institution as a response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as the maternal and perinatal outcomes of women who attended this program.

Study Design Retrospective study of patients via phone-call telemonitoring during the peak period of the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2020–August 2020). Maternal and perinatal outcomes were collected and described. Health providers' satisfaction with the telemonitoring program was assessed via an email survey.

Results Twenty-three (69.7%) health providers answered the survey. The mean age was 64.5 years, 91.3% were OB/GYN (obstetrician-gynecologist) doctors, and 95% agreed that telemonitoring is an adequate method to provide health care when in-person visits are difficult. The 78.7% of scheduled telemonitoring consultations were finally completed. We performed 2,181 telemonitoring consultations for 616 pregnant women and 544 telemonitoring consultations for puerperal women. Other medical specialties offering telemonitoring included gynecology, reproductive health, family planning, cardiology, endocrinology, and following up with patients with reactive serology to severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The majority of the population attending our telemonitoring program were categorized as the lowest strata, i.e., III and IV, according to the Human Development Index, and approximately 42% were deemed as high-risk pregnant women. Additionally, we reported the perinatal outcomes of 424 (63%) pregnant women, the most relevant finding being that approximately 53% of them had cesarean sections.

Conclusion Telemonitoring is an adequate method of continuing the provision of prenatal care when in-person visits are difficult in situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Telemonitoring is feasible even in institutions with no or little experience in telemedicine. The perinatal outcomes in women with telemonitoring seem to be similar to that in the general population.

Key Points

  • Telemonitoring for prenatal care is feasible even in low-income countries and in a critical scenario.

  • OB/GYN doctors agreed with that telemonitoring is an adequate method to provide prenatal care.

  • Maternal and perinatal outcomes are similar in women attending a telemonitoring program.

Keywords

telemonitoring - telemedicine - prenatal care - COVID-19 - pandemic - perinatal outcomes


Publication History

Received: 07 February 2021

Accepted: 18 February 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
03 March 2022

Article published online:
12 June 2022

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