JCOGP
Journal of Controversies in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics

As of January 2023, our "Journal of Controversies Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics" has been published under the Medihealth Academy to publish all articles, reviews and case reports on Pediatrics, especially in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In order to facilitate the citation of the articles, to take our place in internationally respected indexes and to reach a wider readership, we will pay attention to the fact that our article language is only English in terms of acceptance.

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Original Article
Growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants born to mothers with covid-19 during pregnancy
Abstract
Aims: To evaluate the impact of intrauterine SARS-CoV-2 exposure on infant growth and neurodevelopment by comparing anthropometric measurements and Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST-II) results between infants born to mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy and unexposed controls.
Methods: This retrospective case-control study included 40 term infants born to mothers with confirmed COVID-19 during pregnancy and 40 term infants born to mothers without COVID-19. Well-child follow-up records from July 2020 to July 2022 were reviewed. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and DDST-II results were analyzed.
Results: The groups were comparable regarding demographic characteristics, birth weight, gestational age, and sex (all p>0.05). In the study group, 45% of mothers had COVID-19 during the third trimester. At one month, head circumference, length, and weight percentiles were similar between groups. At six months, head circumference below the third percentile was more common in the exposed group (22.2% vs. 3.6%, p=0.045), whereas length and weight percentiles did not differ. No significant differences were observed in anthropometric measurements at nine months. DDST-II showed age-appropriate neurodevelopment in 39 infants in each group; one infant in the exposed group had a suspicious result and one control infant had an abnormal result.
Conclusion: Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 exposure was not associated with significant differences in infant growth or neurodevelopment during the first year of life. Larger prospective studies with longer follow-up are needed to determine long-term outcomes.

Keywords : Anthropometric measurements, COVID-19, development, growth

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Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Ankara Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences (Date: 07.09.2022, Decision No: E-22-1072).

Informed Consent

This retrospective study used pre-existing anonymized patient data. No additional intervention was performed, and there was no direct patient contact. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee, and the requirement for written informed consent was waived by the ethics committee.

Author Contributions

Concept: AET, HEY, DK; Design: RS, DK, ÖB; Data Collection: HEY, AT, DK; Data Analysis: AET, AT, RS; Interpretation of Data: HEY, ÖB, AT; Drafting of the Manuscript: AET, DK; Critical Revision: AT, RS.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest related to this study.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the conduct or publication of this research.


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Article available in :
Volume 4, Issue 4, 2026
Page : 83-89
https://doi.org/10.51271/JCOGP-0079
Article Information
Received : 28 Haz 2026
Accepted : 29 Tem 2026
Published : 28 Eki 2026
Corresponding Author :

Ayşe Esra Tapcı: Department of Pediatrics, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Uviversity of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Eryılmaz Yıldır H, Saç R, Tapcı AE, Bayram Ö, Kahvecioğlu D, Taşar A. Growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants born to mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy. J Controv Obstetr Gynecol Ped. 2026;4(4):83-89. doi:10.51271/JCOGP-0079

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