Collective for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia.
College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa P.O. Box 1560, Ethiopia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 Sep 6;21(9):1188. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21091188.
Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a major global public health threat that has impeded health infrastructures in low- and middle-income countries. This systematic review examines the impact of COVID-19 on maternal health service uptake and perinatal outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa. We searched four databases in August 2020 and updated the search on 22 December 2023: PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Maternity and Infant Care, and EMBASE. Data extraction was performed using a standardised Joana Briggs Institute data extraction format for the eligibility of articles, and any discrepancies were solved through discussion and consensus. This systematic review includes 36 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Antenatal care attendance and institutional childbirth significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and home births increased. Fear of contracting the virus, a lack of transport, a shortage of logistic supplies, a lack of personal protective equipment, lockdown policies, economic and food security, stigmatisation of sick persons, long waiting times in the hospital, and health system weakness were barriers to accessing maternity care. The findings of this review showed a significant decrease in antenatal care attendance and institutional birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on our findings, we recommend that stakeholders ensure the availability of essential medical supplies in the hospital.
2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）是对全球公共卫生的重大威胁，它影响了中低收入国家的卫生基础设施。本系统评价研究了 COVID-19 对撒哈拉以南非洲母婴健康服务利用和围产期结局的影响。我们于 2020 年 8 月在四个数据库中进行了检索，并于 2023 年 12 月 22 日更新了检索：PubMed/MEDLINE、CINAHL、母婴护理和 EMBASE。使用 Joanna Briggs 研究所的标准数据提取格式对文章的资格进行了数据提取，任何差异都通过讨论和达成共识来解决。本系统评价共纳入 36 项符合纳入标准的研究。在 COVID-19 大流行期间，产前保健和机构分娩的参与率显著下降，而在家分娩的比例增加。人们担心感染病毒、缺乏交通工具、后勤物资短缺、缺乏个人防护设备、封锁政策、经济和粮食安全、对病人的污名化、在医院长时间等待以及卫生系统薄弱是获得产妇保健服务的障碍。本研究结果表明，在 COVID-19 大流行期间，产前保健和机构分娩的参与率显著下降。基于我们的研究结果，我们建议利益相关者确保医院内有基本医疗用品的供应。
