Prenatal PM2.5 Exposure During the COVID-19 Period and Its Association with Mode of Delivery, Birth Weight, and APGAR Scores
Environmental pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5), poses serious health risks, notably for vulnerable groups like pregnant women. The COVID-19 pandemic changed environmental conditions and air quality, potentially influencing pregnancy outcomes. This study assessed the impact of COVID-19 on maternal experiences, quality of health services, and various aspects of perinatal care among women in Lithuania. In a cross-sectional sample of 1559 women, data from questionnaires, air quality measurements, and logistic regression analyses were used. Residential PM2.5 exposure was categorised into three levels, and its relationships with delivery method, neonatal birth weight, and APGAR scores were evaluated while controlling for confounders. Higher prenatal PM2.5 exposure was linked to greater caesarean section rates (75.9% in the high-exposure group), lower mean birth weight (declining from 3300 g in the low-exposure group to 2900 g in the high-exposure group), and reduced APGAR scores (mean 1 min score 6.5 and 5 min score 8.0 in the high-exposure group). These findings may indicate a notable adverse effect of prenatal PM2.5 exposure on neonatal outcomes during the pandemic.