The Effect of Ebola Virus Disease on Maternal and Child Health Services and Child Mortality in Sierra Leone, 2014-2015: Implications for COVID-19.

ABSTRACT: During Sierra Leone's 2014-2015 Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic, early reports warned of health system collapse and potential effects on other-cause mortality. These same warnings are reverberating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consideration of the impacts of EVD on maternal and child health services from facility data can be instructive during COVID-19. We surveyed all peripheral healthcare units (PHUs) in Sierra Leone in October 2014 and March 2015 to assess closures, staffing, amenities, medicines, supplies, and service utilization during May 2014-January 2015 and October 2013-January 2014. We report PHU characteristics and service utilization changes for equivalent 4-month periods during the epidemic and the prior year. We present utilization changes by district and service type, an

SUBMITTER: Ngo TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7941828 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature