Redesigning routine antenatal care in low-resource settings during the COVID-19 pandemic

Obstetric care, because of the unique and varying needs specific to different patients, requires special consideration in times of a pandemic such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Health care facilities providing obstetric care need to develop contingency plans for minimizing antenatal visits to limit the exposure of both healthy pregnant women and care providers to the virus. However, to mitigate any potential adverse effects of reduced antenatal visits, intelligent use of evolving telemedicine capabilities can protect the continuum of care despite the overwhelming burden caused by the pandemic. A collaborative work model involving health workers in the community and regional-level health centres also has the potential to prevent the catastrophic collapse of obstetric care services during a pandemic such as the COVID-19 pandemic.