Impact of COVID-19 on maternal healthcare in Africa and the way forward.
Edward Kwabena AmeyawBright Opoku AhinkorahAbdul-Aziz SeiduCarolyne NjuePublished in: Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique (2021)
In the immediate term while physical distancing measures remain in force, deliberate effort must be made to provide evidence-based guidelines, good practice and expert advice that addresses the unique sexual and reproductive health context of African countries. Efforts to train and motivate healthcare providers to adopt online, remote approaches such as use of telemedicine, and expand the involvement of frontline maternal healthcare providers to deliver information on the availability of services through phone-based referral networks, culturally appropriate social media, community radio and folklore messaging strategies are critical to mobilise and secure community confidence in the safety of sexual and reproductive health and maternal care services.
Keyphrases
- healthcare
- social media
- health information
- mental health
- birth weight
- pregnancy outcomes
- primary care
- coronavirus disease
- sars cov
- gestational age
- clinical practice
- physical activity
- preterm infants
- quality improvement
- smoking cessation
- pregnant women
- affordable care act
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- mass spectrometry