116 COVID-19: What do pregnant women know now? A cross sectional study

Introduction/Aims: Pregnancy predisposes women to increased risk of severe COVID-19. The UKOSS has shown pregnant women with BAME background, age >35 years and pre-existing medical conditions may be at even further risk. The aim of this study was to assess if months into the pandemic we are mitigating risk appropriately by ensuring our varied population is informed. The objective was to ascertain levels of COVID-19 knowledge among pregnant patients. Methods: We conducted a survey between October-December 2020 of women attending antenatal clinics at North Middlesex University Hospital, London. The survey captured social demographics; clinical information; fundamental COVID-19 knowledge; COVID-19 in pregnancy knowledge and knowledge of COVID-19 during labour / postnatally. Analysis was performed to examine women’s knowledge across four variables affecting their risk profiles - age, ethnicity, pre-existing conditions and trimester. Results: A total of 203 responses were obtained during the second UK pandemic wave. 91.8% of women correctly answered fundamental COVID-19 knowledge questions. Only 42.7% of BAME respondents identified they were at greater risk of severe COVID-19. The impact of COVID-19 in pregnancy was poorly understood with >70% of women providing incorrect answers surrounding risks of stillbirth / altered foetal development. Women with pre-existing medical conditions had higher than average levels of COVID-19 in pregnancy knowledge (51.9%). Questions regarding COVID-19 in labour / postnatally were answered correctly by 36.7% of the cohort; those in the third trimester and with pre-existing conditions scored higher at 40.9% and 41.4% respectively. Conclusion: Women’s knowledge of the effects of COVID-19 in pregnancy and the postnatal period is limited. Appropriate counselling may result in improved preventative practices and reduced levels of anxiety. Tailored communication to improve knowledge of at risk groups is required if we are to champion equality and mitigate risks.