An Integrative Literature Review on the Impact of COVID-19 on Maternal Health in Africa

Senkyire, Ephraim Kumi; Ohaja, Magdalena; Ewetan, Olabanj; Azuh, Dominic E.; Asiedua, Ernestina; White, Rebecca Hamilton; Dunlea, Margaret; Barger, Mary K.

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1879260/v1

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…So, I consulted with a hospital online instead." This finding corresponds to the results of other studies that there was a reduction in ANC attendance (Senkyire et al, 2023;Tadesse, 2020).…”

Section: Impact Of Covid-19 On Mothers' Maternal Health Information A...supporting

confidence: 92%

“…The pandemic posed unique challenges to pregnant women in most parts of the world as access to their providers became limited and irregular (Chasson et al, 2021;Pant et al, 2020;Temesgen et al, 2021). Some of these challenges include (a) psychological stress on mothers, (b) reduced facility-based births, (c) increased mortality, and (d) reduced antenatal care (ANC) attendance (Asuming et al, 2022;Senkyire et al, 2023). ANC is a public health service that aims to prevent health risks through the early detection of abnormalities, the institution of corrective measures, and the spread of health education to ensure a good start to life for each newborn child (Manyeh et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Maternal Health Information Disparities Amid Covid-19: Comparing Urban and Rural Expectant Mothers in Ghana

Khamis

Agboada²

2023

MaC

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The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted mothers’ access to credible and reliable health information from their healthcare providers. However, the impact of the pandemic on maternal health information access among rural and urban mothers has not been studied, especially in the Global South. Guided by the channel complementarity theory, we examined the sources of maternal health information rural and urban Ghanaian mothers used during the pandemic. Specifically, we analyzed the role access to technology plays in determining the quantity and quality of maternal health information expectant mothers had during the pandemic. Through purposive and snowball sampling techniques, we recruited and conducted in-depth interviews with 15 mothers, eight from rural communities and seven from urban communities in Ghana. We thematically analyzed the data and found that rural and urban mothers used medical and non-medical sources to obtain maternal health information. While medical sources remained the most credible information source even amid the pandemic, the mothers equally appreciated the immense benefits of other sources, particularly the internet. Our findings also suggest that the motivations for using maternal health information sources complementarily were not limited to the mothers’ functional needs, level of interest, and source characteristics but also covered the mothers’ location, resources, and health information literacy levels.

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Section: Impact Of Covid-19 On Mothers' Maternal Health Information A...supporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal Health Information Disparities Amid Covid-19: Comparing Urban and Rural Expectant Mothers in Ghana

Khamis

Agboada²

2023

MaC

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“…In low-and middle-income countries, the pandemic has caused disruptions to healthcare services, which has resulted in a decrease in critical interventions related to maternal and child health. Worsening maternal health outcomes have been linked to changes in healthcareseeking behaviour and a decrease in maternity services (Senkyire et al, 2023). Maternal mortality, ectopic pregnancies, maternal depression, ruptured pregnancies, and stillbirths have all increased, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Covid-19 Pandemic on Prenatal Care Utilization and Birth outcome - Qualitative Systematic Review Protocol

Alhussain,

Mirasol

et al. 2023

Am. J. Med. Sci. Innov.

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The COVID pandemic disrupted routine prenatal care, yet little is known about expectant mothers’ experiences during this time. This qualitative systematic review aims to synthesize evidence on the experiences, views and impact of COVID on prenatal care utilization and birth outcomes. A systematic search is conducted in 5 databases and Google Scholar. Studies providing qualitative data on pregnant women’s experiences accessing prenatal care during COVID are included. Methodological quality is assessed using CASP and thematic synthesis is used to analyse the data. Even among these patients from affluent backgrounds, those who responded to the survey stated that the pandemic had significantly disrupted many parts of their daily lives and medical care, especially regarding social activities and postpartum support. Our findings make it clear that, in addition to increased support from healthcare systems, counseling on coping mechanisms and stressor adaptation techniques should be a part of perinatal care during public health emergencies for everyone. Results have provided an in-depth understanding of pregnant women’s experiences with barriers and facilitators to prenatal care during COVID, and the impact on maternal and neonatal outcomes. This review has identified recommendations to improve prenatal care access and quality during future health crises, contributing to more resilient and equitable maternity care systems.

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“…1.0 Introduction Access to reproductive and maternal healthcare leads to healthier lives for women and girls and increases the likelihood of staying in school and contributing to their communities. Globally, Africa has the highest maternal death rates, linked to poorly functioning healthcare systems (Senkyire, et al, 2022). Midwives are currently among the frontline health workers who are suffering the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic (Chersich et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Communicable Diseases on Maternity services in selected MNCH priority counties’ Public Health facilities in Kenya: A Case of COVID-19.

Matiang’i,

Okoro,

Ngunju

et al. 2023

IJCAB

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Covid-19 is a rapidly evolving pandemic which has affected both developed and developing countries. Maternity services in low resource countries are adapting to provide antenatal and postnatal care midst a rapidly shifting health system environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years there has been progress in reducing maternal and new-born mortality and stillbirths in Kenya and the globe. However, in the wake of covid-19 pandemic, perinatal women and their frontline health services providers especially nurses and midwives have been cited to bear the brunt of the pandemic. This has largely been linked to the limited access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements and the fear of contracting the disease within health services delivery points. There have been adverse effects of maternal and new-born care outcomes due to coronavirus disease. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of coronavirus disease (COVID 19) to maternity services in selected levels III and IV public health facilities within five (5) Counties in Kenya. The five MNCH priority counties selected included Nairobi, Migori, Kilifi, Isiolo and Garissa. A two-stage sampling approach was used to select health facilities in the 5 MNCH priority counties with the sampling frame comprising all MNCH priority counties in Kenya. The study employed cross-sectional and observational retrospective approaches. Data was collected from the midwifery managers and maternity registers in a total of 28 levels III and IV facilities. Open Data Kit (ODK) formatted tools were used to collect data from maternity services facility managers and maternity registers in the selected facilities. Data collected from maternity registers covered the period of four months before covid-19 pandemic and four months during the covid-19 pandemic. A two-days training programme comprising of introduction to study objectives and instruments as well as review of the instruments, practice interviews and data collection was conducted. Data was analysed using STATA Version 15. Descriptive statistics and measures of central tendencies were used to analyse the demographic details of the respondents and health related variables of interests. Chi-square test and fishers exact test were used to find association between facilities that had diagnosed COVID-19 cases and their demographic characteristics. For all tests, a p-value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. A total of 31 midwifery managers were interviewed and a total of 801 maternity records (400 before COVID and 401 during COVID-19 pandemic) were obtained from levels 3 III (66%) and IV (34%) facilities across 5 MNCH priority counties in Kenya [Nairobi (27%), Garissa (10%), Isiolo (20%), Kilifi (23%) and Migori (20%)]. On Overall representation, Level III facilities were slightly over half (51.6%) and level IV facilities had 48.4% representation. Most of the maternity services managers interviewed (48.4%) had worked for less than 3 years in their respective stations and the majority (67.7%) had a diploma in either Nursing or midwifery as their highest level of professional education. Overall, the managers indicated that ANC visits had reduced (67.9%), referrals of mothers with complications got delayed (29%), mothers feared delivering in hospitals (64.5%) and possibly some mothers were delivering with the assistance of TBAs (45.2%). The managers reported that New-born care services were the most affected by the pandemic (54.8%) followed by ANC services (45.2%). Immunization services were the least affected (35.5%). The managers (41.9%) reported reduced uptake of FP commodities and a reduction in exclusive breastfeeding (12.9%). Majority (51.6%) of the managers confirmed there was an increase of unplanned pregnancies (90.4) during the pandemic period with limited opportunity to educate ANC clients (74.2%). It was observed that 48% of the facilities surveyed had diagnosed a covid-19 case yet only 61.3% and 54.8% of the facilities had access to masks and hand sanitizers respectively. Facility records indicated a 19% higher ANC attendance before COVID than during COVID-19 pandemic period. Neonatal deaths increased significantly during Covid-19 period ((P=0.010) by 38%. Live births significantly increased by 15% during the pandemic (p<0.0001). Other significant increases were observed in mothers with labour complications (p=0.0003) and number of mothers that underwent caesarean sections(p<0.001) during the pandemic period. There was no sufficient statistical evidence on whether the uptake of FP commodities, post-partum complications, immunizations and maternal mortalities were affected by the covid-19 pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic caught maternity service providers and the local health systems unaware. The fear of the pandemic had a cross-cutting effect on utilisation of maternity services. Continuous training of health services providers on emergency response to pandemics and health system preparedness is vital in order to have resilient service delivery points.

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An Integrative Literature Review on the Impact of COVID-19 on Maternal Health in Africa

Cited by 3 publications

References 55 publications

Maternal Health Information Disparities Amid Covid-19: Comparing Urban and Rural Expectant Mothers in Ghana

Maternal Health Information Disparities Amid Covid-19: Comparing Urban and Rural Expectant Mothers in Ghana

Influence of Covid-19 Pandemic on Prenatal Care Utilization and Birth outcome - Qualitative Systematic Review Protocol

Effects of Communicable Diseases on Maternity services in selected MNCH priority counties’ Public Health facilities in Kenya: A Case of COVID-19.

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