Armed Violent Conflict and Healthcare-Seeking Behavior for Maternal and Child Health in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Abstract

BackgroundOver 630 million women and children worldwide face displacement due to conflict or resided dangerously close to conflicts zones. While the adverse effects of physical destruction on healthcare delivery are relatively well understood, the effects on healthcare-seeking behavior remain underexplored, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims at the interconnections and knowledge gaps between exposure to armed violent conflicts and healthcare-seeking behaviors for maternal and child health in Sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsFive key electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycNET, and African Journals Online) weresearched for peer-reviewed publications between 2000 and 2022. The review was designed according to PRISMA-P statement and the protocol was registered with PROSPERO database. The methodological quality and risks of bias were appraised using GRADE. A data extraction instrument was modelled along the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews and the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination of Systematic Reviews.ResultThe search results yielded 1,148 publications. Only twenty-one studies met the eligibility criteria, reporting healthcare-seeking behaviors for maternal and child health. Among the twenty-one studies, seventeen (81.0%) reported behaviors for maternal health such as antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, postnatal care services, and family planning. Similarly, nine studies (42.8%) observed behaviors for child health such as vaccination uptake, case management for pneumonia, diarrhea, malnutrition, and cough. While conflict exposure is generally associated with less favorable healthcare-seeking behavior, in some of the studies, healthcare outcomes improved. Marital status, male partner’s attitude, education, income and poverty levels were associated with healthcare-seeking behavior.ConclusionThere is need for multifaceted interventions to mitigate the repercussions of armed violent conflicts on healthcare-seeking behavior, given its mixed effects on child and maternal healthcare utilization. While armed violent conflict disproportionately affects child compared to maternal health, it is noteworthy that, exposure to such conflicts may unintentionally also lead to positive outcomes.Prospero registration numberCRD42023484004.