The ramifications of COVID-19 on maternal health in Kenya

Wangamati, Cynthia Khamala; Sundby, Johanne

doi:10.1080/26410397.2020.1804716

Cited by 21 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Kenya confirmed its first COVID-19 case on March 13, 2020. In response to the gradually increasing numbers of confirmed cases, the Government of Kenya took proactive action and ordered the closure of Kenya’s international airports, introduced a nightly curfew, closed schools, and recommended that those who can work from home do so to observe principles of physical distancing [ 37 ]. These measures aim to reduce citizens’ and residents’ mobility to slow transmission of the virus and prevent an overwhelming burden on the healthcare system.…”

Section: Kenyan Government Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intimate partner violence in Sudan, Malawi and Kenya

Ahmed

Changole²,

Wangamati

2021

Reprod Health

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The COVID-19 infection control and prevention measures have contributed to the increase in incidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and negatively impacted access to health and legal systems. The purpose of this commentary is to highlight the legal context in relation to IPV, and impact of COVID-19 on IPV survivors and IPV prevention and response services in Kenya, Malawi, and Sudan. Whereas Kenya and Malawi have ratified the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and have laws against IPV, Sudan has yet to ratify the convention and lacks laws against IPV. Survivors of IPV in Kenya, Malawi and Sudan have limited access to quality health care, legal and psychosocial support services due to COVID-19 infection control and prevention measures. The existence of laws in Kenya and Malawi, which have culminated into establishment of IPV services, allows a sizable portion of the population to access IPV services in the pandemic period albeit sub-optimal. The lack of laws in Sudan means that IPV services are hardly available and as such, a minimal proportion of the population can access services. Civil society’s push in Kenya has led to prioritisation of IPV services. Thus, a vibrant civil society, committed governments and favourable IPV laws, can lead to better IPV services during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

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Section: Kenyan Government Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intimate partner violence in Sudan, Malawi and Kenya

Ahmed

Changole²,

Wangamati

2021

Reprod Health

Self Cite

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“…As many health systems deal with the rami cation of COVID-19, strategies have been adopted to limit its devastating effects. Wangamati and Sandby report how some of these measures are being adopted in two counties in Kenya to enable transportation of pregnant women in labour to hospitals even during a curfew (37).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and child health services in Africa: a scoping review

Adu

Stallwood

Adebola

et al. 2021

Preprint

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IntroductionThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to disrupt the availability and utilization of routine and emergency health care services, with differing impacts in jurisdictions across the world. In this scoping review, we set out to synthesize documentation of the direct and indirect effect of the pandemic, and national responses to it, on maternal and child health (MNCH) in Africa.MethodsA scoping review was conducted to provide an overview of the most significant impacts identified up to February 2021. Our search included peer reviewed literature, working papers and news articles with the intent to capture evolving and novel updates on the topic. Narrative descriptions were written about thematic areas for which the authors extracted the most evidence.ResultsOne hundred and fifty-five articles were identified through our literature search and 17 were deemed appropriate for analysis. We identified three overarching themes: delayed care, disruption in service provision and utilization and mitigation strategies or recommendation.DiscussionAvailable literature suggests widespread service cutbacks amid a mosaic of mitigation strategies. Our results show that minor consideration was given to preserving health service access for mothers and children, especially in historically underserved areas. Lack of emergency preparedness and infrastructural constraints prevented useful approaches such as telemedicine from being meaningfully utilized.ConclusionsOur scoping review shows that limited research has been published on this topic. Reviewed literature illuminates the continuing need and prioritization for maternity services, immunization, and reproductive health services, which have not been prioritized during the pandemic, yet are necessary to shield the continent’s most vulnerable population segments from the shocks of current and future global health emergencies.

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“…6 The pandemic is overwhelming health systems, and reducing access to other life-saving services, especially for people in poverty and women. In Kenya, for example, maternal health resources and workers have been redeployed to tackle the virus, 7 and globally, reduced perinatal care due to COVID-19 could cause maternal deaths to increase by between 8% and 39% each month. 8 In response to this crisis, the World Bank has stepped up, and provided rapid and substantial financial support to low-and middle-income countries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Kenya, for example, maternal health resources and workers have been redeployed in the effort to tackle the virus. 43 Women also make up the majority of low-paid health and care workers on the frontline, and therefore face the greatest risk of infection. 44 Unprecedented restrictions have caused economic activity to virtually grind to a halt, leading to what the World Bank has characterized as 'the deepest global recession in eight decades'.…”

Section: Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

From Catastrophe to Catalyst: Can the World Bank make COVID-19 a turning point for building universal and fair public healthcare systems?

Seery¹,

Marriott²,

Bous³

et al. 2020

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COVID-19 has exposed the widespread failure to invest in strong and universal public health systems, putting millions of lives at risk and dramatically widening health inequalities. Oxfam analysed the World Bank’s emergency health funding to 71 countries in response to the pandemic. While its response has been rapid and significant, Oxfam finds that the World Bank has missed vital opportunities to strengthen public health systems so they can tackle COVID-19 and deliver health for all in the future. The research outlined in this briefing finds that 89% of World Bank projects do not plan to support any action to remove financial barriers, including user fees, that exclude millions from life-saving care; and two-thirds lack any plans to increase the number of healthcare workers. An urgent course correction is needed to help countries effectively fight the pandemic and build fairer, more resilient universal healthcare systems.

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The ramifications of COVID-19 on maternal health in Kenya

Cited by 21 publications

References 1 publication

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intimate partner violence in Sudan, Malawi and Kenya

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intimate partner violence in Sudan, Malawi and Kenya

The direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and child health services in Africa: a scoping review

From Catastrophe to Catalyst: Can the World Bank make COVID-19 a turning point for building universal and fair public healthcare systems?

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