Background: Preterm birth remains to be the largest cause of neonatal deaths worldwide. Improvement in preterm neonatal outcomes with antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) given to mothers at 24 to 34 weeks gestation who are at risk for preterm birth is well established. Nevertheless, the use of ACS in the late preterm, which comprises the majority of preterm births, remains an area of discussion. Recent international studies have recommended the use of ACS on the late preterm group. However, such studies in a low-income setting are lacking. Moreover, there has been no local studies and guidelines supporting the use of ACS in the late preterm. Objective: To determine the difference in late preterm neonatal outcomes between neonates of mothers given versus those not given antenatal corticosteroids. Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study done at a tertiary hospital on all singleton late preterm deliveries from 2016 to 2018. The population was divided into the no ACS and with ACS group. Data were presented in means and proportions. T test and Z test were used to determine the significant difference. Test statistic with p value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The need for intubation was higher in neonates without ACS compared to the those with ACS, whether the course was completed or not (p value=0.024). Furthermore, respiratory distress syndrome and need for surfactant was significantly higher in the no ACS group when compared to those who completed the ACS course (p value=0.024 and 0.044, respectively). Though, no significant difference was noted in the other neonatal outcomes (p values >0.05). Conclusion ACS, whether completed or not, resulted in a lesser need for intubation. Furthermore, a complete ACS course results in a decreased risk of respiratory distress syndrome and need for surfactant among late preterm neonates.
Human ; Female ; Late Preterm ; Antenatal Corticosteroids

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about mental anguish to the general population. This pandemic has changed the way we deliver healthcare. The enhanced community quarantine measures have caused the institution to close the outpatient department, leading to apprehensions among patients. Shifting to telemedicine to reach out to the patients as an alternative to face-to-face prenatal services is the current practice. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the level of depression, anxiety, and stress in pregnant women enrolled under obstetric (OB) service who now have no access to regular antenatal services, as well as to determine the acceptance of telemedicine as a satisfactory alternative to regular prenatal visits. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study among patients currently enrolled under OB service in a tertiary hospital in Cebu City and Mandaue City. Respondents have been provided the social media page and given prenatal checks by phone calls from the OB resident doctors since March 2020. A data collection form was filled up online consisting of three parts: (1) the mother's sociodemographic and obstetrical information, (2) a validated tool, the depression, anxiety, and stress-21 scale to assess depression, anxiety, and stress, and (3) query on whether telemedicine has helped alleviate depression, anxiety, and stress. Results: Among the 196 patients surveyed, 21.94% were found to be moderately to severely depressed, 35.2% were moderately to severely anxious, and 8.61% were moderately to severely stressed. About 96.43% of the patients felt that telemedicine alleviated depression, anxiety, and stress during this crucial time. Conclusion The level of depression, anxiety, and stress among the patients was generally normal or low. However, 21.93%, 35.2%, and 8.61% were found to be moderately to severely depressed, anxious, and stressed, respectively. Telemedicine was found to be a satisfactory alternative to regular prenatal visits. Respondents accepted telemedicine for the following reasons: unwilling to go to the hospital for fear of contracting the virus, fear of certain lockdown measures such as no available public transportation and no crossing of borders were allowed.
Depression ; Anxiety ; Pregnancy ; Telemedicine