The Impact of the West Africa Ebola Outbreak on Obstetric Health Care in Sierra Leone.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As Sierra Leone celebrates the end of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, we can begin to fully grasp its impact on already weak health systems. The EVD outbreak in West Africa forced many hospitals to close down or reduce their activity, either to prevent nosocomial transmission or because of staff shortages. The aim of this study is to assess the potential impact of EVD on nationwide access to obstetric care in Sierra Leone.

Methods and findings

Community health officers collected weekly data between January 2014-May 2015 on in-hospital deliveries and caesarean sections (C-sections) from all open facilities (public, private for-profit and private non-profit sectors) offering emergency obstetrics in Sierra Leone. This was compared to official data of EVD case

SUBMITTER: Brolin Ribacke KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4766087 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature