Obstetric referrals, complications and health outcomes in maternity wards of large hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed methods study of six hospitals in Guinea, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic affected provision and use of maternal health services. This study describes changes in obstetric complications, referrals, stillbirths and maternal deaths during the first year of the pandemic and elucidates pathways to these changes.

Design

Prospective observational mixed-methods study, combining monthly routine data (March 2019-February 2021) and qualitative data from prospective semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed separately, triangulated during synthesis and presented along three country-specific pandemic periods: first wave, slow period and second wave.

Setting

Six referral maternities in four sub-Saharan African countries: Guinea, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda.

Participants

22 skilled health personnel (SHP) work

SUBMITTER: Benova L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10514648 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature