Effects of the 2014 Ebola outbreak on antenatal care and delivery outcomes in Liberia: a nationwide analysis

Type Journal Article - Public Health Action
Title Effects of the 2014 Ebola outbreak on antenatal care and delivery outcomes in Liberia: a nationwide analysis
Author(s)
Volume 7
Issue 1
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2017
Page numbers S88-S93
URL http://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/iuatld/pha/2017/00000007/A00101s1/art00016?crawler=true&mim​etype=application/pdf
Abstract
Setting: All health facilities, public and private, in Liberia,
West Africa.
Objectives: To determine access to antenatal care
(ANC), deliveries and their outcomes before, during and
after the 2014–2015 Ebola outbreak.
Design: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Result: During the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, overall
monthly reporting from health facilities plunged by 43%.
Access to ANC declined by 50% and reported deliveries
fell by one third during the outbreak. Reported deliveries
by skilled attendants and Caesarian section declined by
respectively 32% and 60%. Facility-based deliveries
dropped by 35% and reported community deliveries fell
by 47%. There was an overall decline in reported stillbirths,
maternal and neonatal deaths, by 50%, during
the outbreak. ANC, reported deliveries and related outcomes
returned to pre-outbreak levels within one year
following the outbreak.
Conclusion: The Liberian health system was considerably
weakened during the Ebola outbreak and had difficulties
providing basic maternal health services. In the
light of the major reporting gaps during the Ebola period,
and the reduced use of health facilities for maternal
care, these findings highlight the need for measures to
avoid such disruptions during future outbreaks.

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