Impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on mother and child health – the case of Ghana
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Date
2024
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BMC Public Health
Abstract
Background The lockdown measures in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have led to a wide range
of unintended consequences for women and children. Until the outbreak of COVID-19, attention was on reducing
maternal and infant mortality due to pregnancy and delivery complications. The aim of this study was to interrogate
the impact of lockdown measures on women and children in two contrasting districts in Ghana – Krobo Odumase
and Ayawaso West Wuogon.
Methods This study adopted the mixed-method approach using both qualitative and quantitative data. The
qualitative study relied on two data collection methods to explore the impacts of COVID-19 control measures on
women and children in Ghana. These were: Focus Group Discussions (FGDs; n=12) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs;
n=18). The study complemented the qualitative data with survey data - household surveys (n=78) which were used
to support the nutrition and school closure data; and policy data gathered from government websites consisting
of government responses to COVID-19. The qualitative data was analysed using the thematic approach with codes
generated apriori with the NVIVO software. The quantitative data used percentages and frequencies.
Results Engagements with participants in the study revealed that the lockdown measures implemented in Ghana
had consequences on child and maternal health, and the health care system as a whole. Our study revealed, for
example, that there was a decrease in antenatal and postnatal attendance in hospitals. Childhood vaccinations also
came to a halt. Obesity and malnutrition were found to be common among children depending on the location of
our study participants (urban and rural areas respectively). Our study also revealed that TB, Malaria and HIV treatment
seeking reduced due to the fear of going to health facilities since those ailments manifest similar symptoms as COVID
19.
Conclusion Government responded to COVID-19 using different strategies however the policy response resulted in
both intended and unintended consequences especially for women and children in Ghana. It is recommended that
national policy directions should ensure the continuous provision of child and maternal healthcare services which are
essential health services during lockdowns.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
COVID-19, Lockdown, Maternal health, Child health