CISA is undertaking a study of pregnant women at the Lucrécia Paim Maternity Hospital to ascertain the risk of transmitting SARS CoV 2 from mother to child.

This study, entitled the “Covid 19 study of pregnant women at the Lucrécia Paim Maternity Hospital and the risk of vertical transmission”, began on 1 January with the key objective of understanding whether the virus may be transmitted from mother to baby through the uterus.

Pregnant women take a rapid test on arrival at maternity during their initial screening. Should the test be positive, the patient is taken to the Maternity’s Covid -19 ward and given a PCR test on admittance to confirm the infection. When her baby is born, the infant is tested within 24 hours of birth. The mother and infant are also tested again seven days after birth.

The Lucrécia Paim Maternity Hospital cares for an average of 80 births per day. This study is due to last approximately three-months.