Background From 2014 to 2016, the largest Ebola outbreak in history threatened Sierra Leone and its neighbouring countries, Guinea and Liberia. The Ebola outbreak impacted pregnant adolescent girl’s access to prenatal care during the pandemic. The aim of this study is to understand health-seeking behaviour among adolescent mothers who were pregnant during the Ebola epidemic in Waterloo, Sierra Leone. Methods The present qualitative study uses the “Three Delay” model, as a theoretical framework to understand and explore adolescent mother’s health-seeking behaviour through four focus group discussions with five participants in each discussion group. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results A multitude of challenges were identified following the Ebola epidemic. The fear of contracting Ebola was a common reason for not seeking care or utilising services. This notion was perpetuated by perceptions in the community and participants personal experiences. Quarantines, national lockdowns, roadblocks, loss of income and extreme poverty were also identified as barriers to accessing health facilities during Ebola. The different encounters with health workers and the challenges that arose at the health facilities were subsequently additional discouraging factors influencing participant’s decision not to seek health care. Conclusion Many of the pre-existing maternal health, societal and social-economic challenges were exacerbated during the Ebola. The epidemic also contributed new challenges such as public fear, mistrust towards health professionals and the health system. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on improving maternal care in general, but also improving preparedness for maternal care in case of future outbreaks, especially for the most vulnerable groups such as adolescent mothers.

Background: Individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) face a lot of challenges when accessing health care services. The main barrier that they face is communication. Despite this, not much research had been carried out in Africa to understand how individuals who are DHH access healthcare services. This study sought to explore experiences of individuals who are DHH in Botswana when accessing healthcare services to propose recommendations towards improving their situation.Methods: This is a qualitative research study using phenomenological approach. Participants were observed at one point in time. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 DHH individuals living in Francistown and Tati, using a semi-structured interview guide and an interpreter. Participants age range was between 18years to 40years. Purposive sampling and snowballing sampling techniques were used to select the participants.Results: The main challenge that individuals who are DHH in Botswana face is communication barrier which has culminated in their reception of poor healthcare services as the healthcare professionals fail to effectively attain to their health needs. This is evident through wrong prescriptions and treatment; poor counselling services, lack of confidentiality; poor maternal health services especially during child delivery; and limited health information. However, individuals who are DHH in Botswana continues to utilise healthcare services.Conclusion: Poor communication between healthcare professionals and individuals who are DHH act as an impediment to acquiring proper healthcare services by individuals who are DHH. This can lead to poor health outcomes for the DHH population as they are not well informed about health issues that they are at risk of and at times do not know where to seek specific healthcare services pertaining to the health problems they are experiencing. Therefore, there is a need to provide sign language interpreters in the healthcare centres to reduce the impact of this problem.

Background: Globally, adolescent pregnancy is one of the major areas of concern. Over 16 million girls aged between 15-19 years give birth, while over 1 million become pregnant before 15 years, most of who are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, very few adolescents access maternal health services. This study explored the available maternal health services, barriers in accessing them and possible strategies for improving accessibility to these services among pregnant adolescents, specifically in Uganda.Methods: The study was carried out at Naguru teenage information and health Centre (NTIHC), Nakawa division, Kampala district using a qualitative research approach. Data was obtained using in-depth face to face interviews from 31 independent pregnant adolescents and four health care providers. These participants were selected using convenient sampling technique. Data was manually analyzed and themes were extracted and used in the interpretation of results.Results: The study found out that adolescents use only antenatal health care services while the uptake of postpartum health services was side-lined much as they were found available in the health facilities. The dominant antenatal care services among adolescents include; testing and managing of STIs, measuring pressure, tetanus vaccine, measuring weight, counselling and guidance, peer education, and providing drugs. Adolescents also encountered challenges such as long distances, financial constraints, stigmatization, negative attitude of health workers and community expressed bias when accessing these services. It further revealed that through government intervention, community and health workers, accessibility to maternal health services would be improved. Specifically, increasing remuneration for health workers; sensitizing communities about adolescent pregnancy and rights; construction of labour suites; and health workers’ competence were highly emphasized.Conclusion: Advertising and promotion of maternal health services; sensitization of community members; and government involvement will be the key parameters for enhancing maternal health care among adolescent mothers.

Background: From 2014-2016, the largest Ebola outbreak in history threatened Sierra Leone and its neighbouring countries, Guinea and Liberia. The Ebola outbreak impacted pregnant adolescent girl’s access to prenatal care during the pandemic. The aim of this study is to understand health-seeking behaviour among adolescent mothers who were pregnant during the Ebola epidemic in Waterloo, Sierra Leone. Methods: The present qualitative study uses the “Three Delay” model, as a theoretical framework to understand and explore adolescent mother’s health-seeking behaviour through four focus group discussions with five participants in each discussion group. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: A multitude of challenges were identified following the Ebola epidemic. The fear of contracting Ebola was a common reason for not seeking care or utilising services. This notion was perpetuated by perceptions in the community and participants personal experiences. Quarantines, national lockdowns, roadblocks, loss of income and extreme poverty were also identified as barriers to accessing health facilities during Ebola. The different encounters with health workers and the challenges that arose at the health facilities were subsequently additional discouraging factors influencing participant’s decision not to seek health care. Conclusion: Many of the pre-existing maternal health, societal and social-economic challenges were exacerbated during the Ebola. The epidemic also contributed new challenges such as public fear, mistrust towards health professionals and the health system. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on improving maternal care in general, but also improving preparedness for maternal care in case of future outbreaks, especially for the most vulnerable groups such as adolescent mothers

Background: From 2014-2016, the largest Ebola outbreak in history threatened Sierra Leone and its neighbouring countries, Guinea and Liberia. The Ebola outbreak impacted pregnant adolescent girl’s access to prenatal care during the pandemic. The aim of the study is to understand health-seeking behaviour among adolescent mothers who were pregnant during the Ebola epidemic in Waterloo, Sierra Leone. Methods: The present qualitative study uses the “Three Delay” model, as a theoretical framework to understand and explore adolescent mother’s health-seeking behaviour through four focus group discussions with five participants in each discussion group. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: A multitude of challenges were identified following the Ebola epidemic. The fear of contracting Ebola was a common reason for not seeking care or utilising services. This notion was perpetuated by perceptions in the community and participants personal experiences. Quarantines, national lockdowns, roadblocks, loss of income and extreme poverty were also identified as barriers to accessing health facilities during Ebola. The different encounters with health workers and the challenges that arose at the health facilities were subsequently additional discouraging factors influencing participant’s decision not to seek health care. Conclusion: Many of the pre-existing maternal health, societal and social-economic challenges were exacerbated during the Ebola. The epidemic also contributed new challenges such as public fear, mistrust towards health professionals and the health system. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on improving maternal care in general, but also improving preparedness for maternal care in case of future outbreaks, especially for the most vulnerable groups such as adolescent mothers.