Objectives. The effect of COVID-19 infection in pregnant women and her neonate is not well-understood, with no clear evidence for vertical transmission. This study aims to determine the maternal and neonatal clinical characteristics and the dyad’s outcomes among those infected with COVID-19 infection. Methods. An ambispective cross-sectional study involving pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 infection was conducted at the Philippine General Hospital from April to August 2020. Two hundred nine obstetric patients were included, 14 of whom consented to specimen collection to determine vertical transmission. Results. The majority of pregnant women with COVID-19 infection and their neonates had good outcomes. Labor, delivery, and the immediate postpartum course were generally uneventful. The all-cause maternal morbidity rate was high at 75.6 per 100 cases during the five-month study period. COVID-19 related morbidities included the development of Guillain-Barré Syndrome. The in-hospital all-cause maternal mortality rate was 1.91 per 100 cases. The causes of maternal death were acute respiratory failure, septic shock, and congenital heart disease (atrial septal defect with Eisenmengerization). The in-hospital, all-cause neonatal mortality rate was 1.04 per 100 neonates of cases. The lone mother and infant deaths were in a postmortem rt-PCR swab negative mother with an rt-PCR swab positive live neonate who eventually succumbed after nine days of life. All 14 dyads with collected specimens that included amniotic fluid, placental tissue, umbilical cord, and neonate nasopharyngeal swab tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 rt-PCR. Conclusion. The prognosis for COVID-19 infected pregnant patients was generally good, with most of the patients discharged improved. Almost all of the neonates born to COVID-19-infected mothers were stable-term infants. There was no evidence for vertical transmission, as shown by negative rt-PCR results for all the additional specimens obtained. In general, the prognosis for COVID-19 infected dyads was good. The majority of the mothers were discharged well with their term infants. All possible maternal sources of COVID-19 infection to the neonate tested negative. This study provided no evidence for vertical transmission.
regnancy ; Female ; Infant, Newborn ; COVID-19 ; Family

BACKGROUND: The human papillomavirus is associated with 99.7 percent of all cases of cervical cancer. In 2006, the HPV vaccine was launched with the intention of preventing cervical cancer.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the knowledge, attitudes and practices of clinicians from different subspecialties regarding the human papillomavirus vaccine.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaire were distributed and answered by consultants from the Department of Obstetrics, Family Medicine and Pediatrics.
RESULTS: A response rate of of 68% was obtained. Respondents attained the highest scores on questions regarding HPV and HPV infection. The lowest scores were on the HPV vaccine, brands available and dosing schedule. Majority agreed that vaccine recommendation will facilitate introduction of the vaccine to their practice. However, concerns regarding issues of sexuality and encouragement of high risk sexual behavior especially in younger adolescents were deemed obstacle to vaccine acceptance. Majority will also recommend the vaccine and were willing to administer the vaccine to a family member.
CONCLUSION: There was no statistical difference among the scores of clinicians from the three departments implying that basic knowledge regarding HPV were similar. Most believe that the recommendation of a higher society will help promote the vaccine. Majority also recognized adolescent autonomy. Issues of sexuality were deemed important and should be discussed among parents, physicians and if applicable, the patient. Studies investigating the long term social impact of the HPV vaccine are needed to validate attitudes regarding the vaccine. Information campaigns should be initiated to disseminate facts about HPV vaccine and to dispel misconceptions which could interfere with its acceptablity.

Papillomavirus Infections ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Papillomaviridae ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; Attitude ; Pediatrics