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Gadsden T, Sood T, Purwar P, Peiris D, Nambiar D, Downey LE. Impact of COVID-19 on essential service provision for reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health in the Southeast Asia region: a systematic review. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. SOUTHEAST ASIA 2024; 25:100357. [PMID: 39021483 PMCID: PMC467076 DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2024.100357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Background There is increasing evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted adversely on the provision of essential health services globally. The Southeast Asia region (SEAR) has experienced extremely high rates of COVID-19 infection, with potential adverse impacts on provision of reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health (RMNCH) services. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review of quantitative evidence to characterise the impact of COVID-19 on the provision of essential RMNCH services across the SEAR. Studies published between December 2019 and May 2022 were included in the study. The quality of studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. Findings We reviewed 1924 studies and analysed data from 20 peer-reviewed studies and three reports documenting quantitative pre-post estimates of RMNCH service disruption because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eleven studies were of low methodological quality, in addition to seven and five studies of moderate and high methodological qualities respectively. Six countries in the region were represented in the included studies: India (11 studies), Bangladesh (4), Nepal (3), Sri Lanka (1), Bhutan (1) and Myanmar (1). These countries demonstrated a wide reduction in antenatal care services (-1.6% to -69.6%), facility-based deliveries (-2.3% to -52.4%), child immunisation provision (-13.5% to -87.7%), emergency obstetric care (+4.0% to -76.6%), and family planning services (-4.2% to -100%). Interpretation There have been large COVID-19 pandemic related disruptions for a wide range of RMNCH essential health service indicators in several SEAR countries. Notably, we found a higher level of service disruption than the WHO PULSE survey estimates. If left unaddressed, such disruptions may set back hard-fought gains in RMNCH outcomes across the region. The absence of studies in five SEAR countries is a priority evidence gap that needs addressing to better inform policies for service protection. Funding WHO Sri Lanka Country Office.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Gadsden
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, Australia
- The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tushar Sood
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Parnika Purwar
- The George Institute for Global Health, New Delhi, India
| | - David Peiris
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, Australia
- The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Devaki Nambiar
- The George Institute for Global Health, New Delhi, India
- Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka, India
- The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Laura E. Downey
- The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, Australia
- School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Varpula R, Äyräs O, Aabakke AJM, Klungsøyr K, Svanvik T, Kanerva J, Jonasdottir E, Mentzoni CT, Thurn L, Jones E, Fredriksson L, Pettersson K, Nyfløt LT, Vangen S, Røe K, Júlíusson PB, Källén K, Gissler M, Pyykönen A, Jakobsson M, Krebs L, Engjom HM. Early suppression policies protected pregnant women from COVID-19 in 2020: A population-based surveillance from the Nordic countries. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2024; 103:1063-1072. [PMID: 38382894 PMCID: PMC11103151 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Coronavirus 2019 Disease (COVID-19) pandemic reached the Nordic countries in March 2020. Public health interventions to limit viral transmission varied across different countries both in timing and in magnitude. Interventions indicated by an Oxford Stringency Index ≥50 were implemented early (March 13-17, 2020) in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland, and on March 26, 2020 in Sweden. The aim of the current study was to assess the incidence of COVID-19-related admissions of pregnant women in the Nordic countries in relation to the different national public health strategies during the first year of the pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a meta-analysis of population-based cohort studies in the five Nordic countries with national or regional surveillance in the Nordic Obstetric Surveillance System (NOSS) collaboration: national data from Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway, and regional data covering 31% of births in Sweden. The source population consisted of women giving birth in the included areas March 1-December 31, 2020. Pregnant women with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test ≤14 days before hospital admission were included, and admissions were stratified as either COVID-19-related or non-COVID (other obstetric healthcare). Information about public health policies was retrieved retrospectively. RESULTS In total, 392 382 maternities were considered. Of these, 600 women were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection and 137 (22.8%) were admitted for COVID-19 symptoms. The pooled incidence of COVID-19 admissions per 1000 maternities was 0.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.2 to 1.2, I2 = 77.6, tau2 = 0.68, P = 0.0), ranging from no admissions in Iceland to 1.9 admissions in the Swedish regions. Interventions to restrict viral transmission were less stringent in Sweden than in the other Nordic countries. CONCLUSIONS There was a clear variation in pregnant women's risk of COVID-19 admission across countries with similar healthcare systems but different public health interventions to limit viral transmission. The meta-analysis indicates that early suppression policies protected pregnant women from severe COVID-19 disease prior to the availability of individual protection with vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reetta Varpula
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital and Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Äyräs
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital and Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna J M Aabakke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Holbæk, Holbæk, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kari Klungsøyr
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department for Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway
| | - Teresia Svanvik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Julia Kanerva
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Eva Jonasdottir
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | - Lars Thurn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Elin Jones
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lisa Fredriksson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin Pettersson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lill Trine Nyfløt
- Norwegian Research Center for Women's Health, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Siri Vangen
- Norwegian Research Center for Women's Health, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kjerstine Røe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Pétur B Júlíusson
- Department for Health Registry Research and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway
| | - Karin Källén
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institution of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mika Gissler
- Department of Knowledge Brokers, THL Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
- Academic Primary Health Care Center, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Maija Jakobsson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, HUS Hyvinkää Hospital, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lone Krebs
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Copenhagen University Hospital-Amager and Hvidovre Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hilde Marie Engjom
- Department for Health Promotion, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway
- Department for Health Registry Research and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway
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Cheng TS, Zahir F, Carolin SV, Verma A, Rao S, Choudhury SS, Deka G, Mahanta P, Kakoty S, Medhi R, Chhabra S, Rani A, Bora A, Roy I, Minz B, Bharti OK, Deka R, Opondo C, Churchill D, Knight M, Kurinczuk JJ, Nair M. Risk factors for labour induction and augmentation: a multicentre prospective cohort study in India. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. SOUTHEAST ASIA 2024; 25:100417. [PMID: 38757059 PMCID: PMC11097080 DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2024.100417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Background Guidelines for labour induction/augmentation involve evaluating maternal and fetal complications, and allowing informed decisions from pregnant women. This study aimed to comprehensively explore clinical and non-clinical factors influencing labour induction and augmentation in an Indian population. Methods A prospective cohort study included 9305 pregnant women from 13 hospitals across India. Self-reported maternal socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, and maternal medical and obstetric histories from medical records were obtained at recruitment (≥28 weeks of gestation), and women were followed up within 48 h after childbirth. Maternal and fetal clinical information were classified based on guidelines into four groups of clinical factors: (i) ≥2 indications, (ii) one indication, (iii) no indication and (iv) contraindication. Associations of clinical and non-clinical factors (socio-demographic, healthcare utilisation and lifestyle related) with labour induction and augmentation were investigated using multivariable logistic regression analyses. Findings Over two-fifths (n = 3936, 42.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 41.3-43.3%) of the study population experienced labour induction and more than a quarter (n = 2537, 27.3%, 95% CI 26.4-28.2%) experienced augmentation. Compared with women with ≥2 indications, those with one (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.50, 95% CI 0.42-0.58) or no indication (aOR 0.24, 95% CI 0.20-0.28) or with contraindications (aOR 0.12, 95% CI 0.07-0.20) were less likely to be induced, adjusting for non-clinical characteristics. These associations were similar for labour augmentation. Notably, 34% of women who were induced or augmented did not have any clinical indication. Several maternal demographic (age at labour, parity and body mass index in early pregnancy), healthcare utilization (number of antenatal check-ups, duration of iron-folic acid supplementation and individuals managing childbirth) and socio-economic factors (religion, living below poverty line, maternal education and partner's occupation) were independently associated with labour induction and augmentation. Interpretation Although decisions about induction and augmentation of labour in our study population in India were largely guided by clinical recommendations, we cannot ignore that more than a third of the women did not have an indication. Decisions could also be influenced by non-clinical factors which need further research. Funding The MaatHRI platform is funded by a Medical Research Council Career Development Award (Grant Ref: MR/P022030/1) and a Transition Support Award (Grant Ref: MR/W029294/1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuck Seng Cheng
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Farzana Zahir
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, India
| | - Solomi V. Carolin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Makunda Christian Leprosy and General Hospital, Karimganj, Assam, India
| | - Ashok Verma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Government Medical College, Kangra, Tanda, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Sereesha Rao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Silchar, Assam, India
| | - Saswati Sanyal Choudhury
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Gitanjali Deka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tezpur Medical College, Tezpur, India
| | - Pranabika Mahanta
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, Jorhat, Assam, India
| | - Swapna Kakoty
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital, Barpeta, Assam, India
| | - Robin Medhi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital, Barpeta, Assam, India
| | - Shakuntala Chhabra
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Maharashtra, India
| | - Anjali Rani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Banaras Hindu University Institute of Medical Sciences, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Amrit Bora
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sonapur District Hospital, Assam, India
| | - Indrani Roy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nazareth Hospital, Shillong, Meghalaya, India
| | - Bina Minz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sewa Bhawan Hospital Society, Chattisgarh, India
| | - Omesh Kumar Bharti
- State Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Rupanjali Deka
- MaatHRI Project, Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Charles Opondo
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - David Churchill
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, UK
- Research Institute for Healthcare Science, University of Wolverhampton, UK
| | - Marian Knight
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Jennifer J. Kurinczuk
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Manisha Nair
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
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Beňová L, Semaan A, Afolabi BB, Amongin D, Babah OA, Dioubate N, Harissatou N, Kikula AI, Nakubulwa S, Ogein O, Adroma M, Anzo Adiga W, Diallo A, Diallo IS, Diallo L, Cellou Diallo M, Maomou C, Mtinangi N, Sy T, Delvaux T, Delamou A, Nakimuli A, Pembe AB, Banke-Thomas AO. Obstetric referrals, complications and health outcomes in maternity wards of large hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed methods study of six hospitals in Guinea, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e076364. [PMID: 37730410 PMCID: PMC10514648 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-076364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The COVID-19 pandemic affected provision and use of maternal health services. This study describes changes in obstetric complications, referrals, stillbirths and maternal deaths during the first year of the pandemic and elucidates pathways to these changes. DESIGN Prospective observational mixed-methods study, combining monthly routine data (March 2019-February 2021) and qualitative data from prospective semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed separately, triangulated during synthesis and presented along three country-specific pandemic periods: first wave, slow period and second wave. SETTING Six referral maternities in four sub-Saharan African countries: Guinea, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. PARTICIPANTS 22 skilled health personnel (SHP) working in the maternity wards of various cadres and seniority levels. RESULTS Percentages of obstetric complications were constant in four of the six hospitals. The percentage of obstetric referrals received was stable in Guinea and increased at various times in other hospitals. SHP reported unpredictability in the number of referrals due to changing referral networks. All six hospitals registered a slight increase in stillbirths during the study period, the highest increase (by 30%-40%) was observed in Uganda. Four hospitals registered increases in facility maternal mortality ratio; the highest increase was in Guinea (by 158%), which had a relatively mild COVID-19 epidemic. These increases were not due to mortality among women with COVID-19. The main pathways leading to these trends were delayed care utilisation and disruptions in accessing care, including sub-optimal referral linkages and health service closures. CONCLUSIONS Maternal and perinatal survival was negatively affected in referral hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa during COVID-19. Routine data systems in referral hospitals must be fully used as they hold potential in informing adaptations of maternal care services. If combined with information on women's and care providers' needs, this can contribute to ensuring continuation of essential care provision during emergency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Beňová
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Aline Semaan
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Bosede Bukola Afolabi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Dinah Amongin
- Department of Health Policy Planning and Management, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ochuwa Adiketu Babah
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Nafissatou Dioubate
- Département de santé publique, Centre National de Formation et de Recherche en Santé Rurale, Maférinyah, Forécariah, Guinea
| | | | - Amani Idris Kikula
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Sarah Nakubulwa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Olubunmi Ogein
- College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Moses Adroma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - William Anzo Adiga
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Lamine Diallo
- Service de la maternité, Hôpital Régional de Mamou, Mamou, Guinea
| | | | - Cécé Maomou
- Service de la maternité, Hôpital Régional de Mamou, Mamou, Guinea
| | - Nathanael Mtinangi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Telly Sy
- Service de la maternité, Hôpital National Ignace Deen, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Thérèse Delvaux
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Alexandre Delamou
- Département de santé publique, Centre National de Formation et de Recherche en Santé Rurale, Maférinyah, Forécariah, Guinea
| | - Annettee Nakimuli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Andrea Barnabas Pembe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
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Knight M, Engjom HM. Investing in robust surveillance of the effects of covid-19 and future emerging infections in pregnancy should be prioritised. BMJ 2022; 379:o2810. [PMID: 36418038 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.o2810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marian Knight
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Hilde M Engjom
- Department of Health Promotion, Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway
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Sharma R, Verma R, Solanki HK, Seth S, Mishra N, Sharma R, Mishra P, Singh M. Impact of Severity of Maternal COVID-19 Infection on Perinatal Outcome and Vertical Transmission Risk: An Ambispective Study From North India. Cureus 2022; 14:e21820. [PMID: 35261838 PMCID: PMC8894681 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.21820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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7
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Semaan A, Banke-Thomas A, Amongin D, Babah O, Dioubate N, Kikula A, Nakubulwa S, Ogein O, Adroma M, Anzo Adiga W, Diallo A, Diallo L, Cellou Diallo M, Maomou C, Mtinangi N, Sy T, Delvaux T, Afolabi BB, Delamou A, Nakimuli A, Pembe AB, Benova L. 'We are not going to shut down, because we cannot postpone pregnancy': a mixed-methods study of the provision of maternal healthcare in six referral maternity wards in four sub-Saharan African countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:e008063. [PMID: 35144921 PMCID: PMC8844957 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-008063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Referral hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa are located in crowded urban areas, which were often epicentres of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper prospectively assesses how maternal healthcare was provided in six referral hospitals in Guinea, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Mixed-methods design using three data sources: (1) qualitative data from repeated rounds of semi-structured interviews conducted between July 2020 and February 2021 with 22 maternity skilled heath personnel (SHP) on perceptions of care provision; (2) quantitative monthly routine data on caesarean section and labour induction from March 2019 to February 2021; and (3) timeline data of COVID-19 epidemiology, national and hospital-level events. Qualitative and quantitative data were analysed separately, framed based on timeline analysis, and triangulated during reporting. RESULTS We identified three periods: first wave, slow period and second wave. The first wave was challenging for SHP given little knowledge about COVID-19, lack of infection prevention and control training, and difficulties reaching workplace. Challenges that persisted beyond the first wave were shortage of personal protective equipment and no rapid testing for women suspected with COVID-19. We noted no change in the proportion of caesarean sections during the pandemic, and a small increase in the proportion of labour inductions. All hospitals arranged isolation areas for women suspected/confirmed with COVID-19 and three hospitals provided care to women with suspected/confirmed COVID-19. Breastfeeding was not discouraged and newborns were not separated from mothers confirmed with COVID-19. Care provision was maintained through dedication of SHP, support from hospital management and remote communication between SHP. CONCLUSION Routine maternal care provision was maintained in referral hospitals, despite first wave challenges. Referral hospitals and SHP contributed to guideline development for pregnant women suspected/confirmed with COVID-19. Maternity SHP, women and pregnancy must always be included in priority setting when responding to health system shocks, including outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Semaan
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Aduragbemi Banke-Thomas
- LSE Health, The London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
- School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, London, UK
| | - Dinah Amongin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Health Policy Planning and Management, Makerere University, School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ochuwa Babah
- College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Nafissatou Dioubate
- Département de Santé Publique, Centre National de Formation et de Recherche en Santé Rurale de Maférinyah, Maférinyah, Forécariah, Guinea
| | - Amani Kikula
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of
| | - Sarah Nakubulwa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Olubunmi Ogein
- College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Moses Adroma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - William Anzo Adiga
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Abdourahmane Diallo
- Maternité Ignace Deen, Hôpital National Ignace Deen de Conakry, Conakry, Guinea
| | | | | | - Cécé Maomou
- Maternité, Hôpital Régional de Mamou, Mamou, Guinea
| | - Nathanael Mtinangi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of
| | - Telly Sy
- Maternité Ignace Deen, Hôpital National Ignace Deen de Conakry, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Thérèse Delvaux
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bosede Bukola Afolabi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Alexandre Delamou
- Département de Santé Publique, Centre National de Formation et de Recherche en Santé Rurale de Maférinyah, Maférinyah, Forécariah, Guinea
- Department of Public Health, Université Gamal Abdel Nasser de Conakry, Conakry, Guinea
| | - Annettee Nakimuli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Andrea B Pembe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, United Republic of
| | - Lenka Benova
- Department of Public Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
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