COVID-19 pandemic-related disruptions to maternal, child and adolescent health and nutrition services in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

Background The ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic have extended far beyond the direct impacts (cases and deaths); acute pandemic control measures and fear of infection have affected populations more broadly, and vulnerable populations—including women, children and adolescents—have been the most affected. This report seeks to examine the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on health systems in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on ten countries, both overall and with a specific view on maternal, child and adolescent health and nutrition services. The report also presents evidence-based policy recommendations to mitigate these effects. Methods We created an analysis framework based on a literature review and publicly available data, and validated with expert interviews. We used this analysis framework to compare the extent of disruptions to maternal, child and adolescent health and nutrition services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Overall, we found evidence of significant service disruption across three core domains: antenatal services, intra- and post-partum services and child and adolescent services with possible associations on maternal, infant and child health outcomes. Four key policy implications are presented for consideration to manage risks of service disruption and increase the resilience of health systems more broadly in Latin American and the Caribbean. Conclusions Owing to the developing nature of many of the health systems in the countries studied, the findings were affected by missing data and therefore should be interpreted with caution and supplemented with further research.