COVID-19 Lockdowns in Africa: Their Effects and Challenges

Tumwesigye, Nazarius Mbona; Biribawa, Claire; Nyaberi, Jackline Mosinya; Namanda, Cissie; Atukunda, Glorious; Ayebale, Lillian

doi:10.46692/9781529215892.016

Cited by 7 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…Second, our analysis found that while some services were disrupted at the start of the pandemic, utilization of these services bounced back in the follow-up months. Similar findings have been reported in Uganda [ 26 ]. The second round of the pulse survey also reported a reduction in service disruption across the 105 surveyed countries, compared to the level of disruption reported in the first survey [ 25 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…For instance, the utilization of both outpatient and inpatient healthcare services reduced in March 2020, even though only the reduction in inpatient admissions was found to be statistically significant. These finding corroborates findings from other settings as shown, for instance, by the World Health Organization (WHO) pulse surveys of 105 countries in 2020 [ 24 , 25 ] and country specific analyses in Uganda [ 26 ], South Africa [ 27 ], and the Philippines [ 28 ]. However, again consistent with pulse surveys, not all services were disrupted.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Further, the national sexual and gender based violence hotline recorded an increase in reports of gender-based violence from 86 cases in February 2020 to 1108 in June 2020 [ 31 ]. These findings also mirror findings in other countries including Uganda [ 26 ] South Africa [ 27 ], Morocco [ 32 ], India [ 33 ], and Bangladesh [ 34 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

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Indirect health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya: a mixed methods assessment

Barasa

Kazungu

Orangi

et al. 2021

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic and country measures to control it can lead to negative indirect health effects. Understanding these indirect health effects is important in informing strategies to mitigate against them. This paper presents an analysis of the indirect health effects of the pandemic in Kenya. Methods We employed a mixed-methods approach, combining the analysis of secondary quantitative data obtained from the Kenya Health Information System database (from January 2019 to November 2020) and a qualitative inquiry involving key informant interviews (n = 12) and document reviews. Quantitative data were analysed using an interrupted time series analysis (using March 2020 as the intervention period). Thematic analysis approach was employed to analyse qualitative data. Results Quantitative findings show mixed findings, with statistically significant reduction in inpatient utilization, and increase in the number of sexual violence cases per OPD visit that could be attributed to COVID-19 and its mitigation measures. Key informants reported that while financing of essential health services and domestic supply chains were not affected, international supply chains, health workforce, health infrastructure, service provision, and patient access were disrupted. However, the negative effects were thought to be transient, with mitigation measures leading to a bounce back. Conclusion Finding from this study provide some insights into the effects of the pandemic and its mitigation measures in Kenya. The analysis emphasizes the value of strategies to minimize these undesired effects, and the critical role that routine health system data can play in monitoring continuity of service delivery.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

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Indirect health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya: a mixed methods assessment

Barasa

Kazungu

Orangi

et al. 2021

BMC Health Serv Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In Africa, specifically, there were generally few in April, but they grew most visibly in (Malawi confirmed its first three cases of COVID-19 on 2 April 2020, having closed all international borders and banned air travel on 27 March, except for essential health and other supplies and returning Malawian citizens or residents (Tumwesigye et al 2020). South Africa has the most confirmed cases on the African continent and ranks fifth in the world, with 553,000 cases and 10,210 deaths as of August 8, 2020 (Tumwesigye et al 2020). Nigeria confirmed its first case on February 27, 2020, and by August 9, 2020, the total number of cases was 46,140, with 942 deaths (Tumwesigye et al 2020).…”

Section: The Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…South Africa has the most confirmed cases on the African continent and ranks fifth in the world, with 553,000 cases and 10,210 deaths as of August 8, 2020 (Tumwesigye et al 2020). Nigeria confirmed its first case on February 27, 2020, and by August 9, 2020, the total number of cases was 46,140, with 942 deaths (Tumwesigye et al 2020). South Africa, for example, experienced healthservice saturation because more than 80% of people sought treatment for chronic diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV.…”

Section: The Covid-19 Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Information dissemination during pandemics: a review on the Spanish Influenza and Covid-19

Kyere

Kankam

2021

RLJ

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Background of the study: Information dissemination could be seen as the means through which facts and information are linked to the rightful individual seekers and organizations. Due to restrictions during pandemics, health professionals and other stakeholders have the important role of disseminating information and resources on the pandemic to the public through various media channels available to them. Purpose: This study looked into how information disseminations were carried out during the Spanish Influenza and Covid-19 pandemics based on review of literature Method: Through the use of relevant keywords and search strategies, the study retrieved literature from Google Scholar for review. The literature were then analysed based on themes to produce a narrative report. Findings: The study reveals that information access and dissemination were timely and speedily during the Covid-19 pandemic dur to advancements in technology whereas the dissemination of information during the Spanish Influenza were limited and rarely timely worldwide. Conclusion: Currently, there exist a problem of misinformation and an ‘infodemic.' Due to advancements in information sharing technologies. The study recommends the need to tackle ‘infodemic’ and misinformation during pandemics.

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Perceived impacts of COVID-19 responses on routine health service delivery in Liberia and UK: cross-country lessons for resilient health systems for equitable service delivery during pandemics

Alhassan

Zaizay

Dean

et al. 2023

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background COVID-19 has caused significant public health problems globally, with catastrophic impacts on health systems. This study explored the adaptations to health services in Liberia and Merseyside UK at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (January–May 2020) and their perceived impact on routine service delivery. During this period, transmission routes and treatment pathways were as yet unknown, public fear and health care worker fear was high and death rates among vulnerable hospitalised patients were high. We aimed to identify cross-context lessons for building more resilient health systems during a pandemic response. Methods The study employed a cross-sectional qualitative design with a collective case study approach involving simultaneous comparison of COVID-19 response experiences in Liberia and Merseyside. Between June and September 2020, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 66 health system actors purposively selected across different levels of the health system. Participants included national and county decision-makers in Liberia, frontline health workers and regional and hospital decision-makers in Merseyside UK. Data were analysed thematically in NVivo 12 software. Results There were mixed impacts on routine services in both settings. Major adverse impacts included diminished availability and utilisation of critical health services for socially vulnerable populations, linked with reallocation of health service resources for COVID-19 care, and use of virtual medical consultation in Merseyside. Routine service delivery during the pandemic was hampered by a lack of clear communication, centralised planning, and limited local autonomy. Across both settings, cross-sectoral collaboration, community-based service delivery, virtual consultations, community engagement, culturally sensitive messaging, and local autonomy in response planning facilitated delivery of essential services. Conclusion Our findings can inform response planning to assure optimal delivery of essential routine health services during the early phases of public health emergencies. Pandemic responses should prioritise early preparedness, with investment in the health systems building blocks including staff training and PPE stocks, address both pre-existing and pandemic-related structural barriers to care, inclusive and participatory decision-making, strong community engagement, and effective and sensitive communication. Multisectoral collaboration and inclusive leadership are essential.

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COVID-19 Lockdowns in Africa: Their Effects and Challenges

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

Indirect health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya: a mixed methods assessment

Indirect health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya: a mixed methods assessment

Information dissemination during pandemics: a review on the Spanish Influenza and Covid-19

Perceived impacts of COVID-19 responses on routine health service delivery in Liberia and UK: cross-country lessons for resilient health systems for equitable service delivery during pandemics

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