Assessing the Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Maternal Healthcare Utilisation: Evidence from Routine Health Data in Kenya and Ethiopia

Michael Chipeta, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)
Maame Peterson, African Institute for Development Policy
Chimwemwe Chifungo, African Institute for Development Policy
Themba Mzembe, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)
Nyovani Madise

COVID-19 and associated lockdowns pose potential threats to maternal healthcare access in sub-Saharan Africa, impacting progress toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We examined COVID-19’s effects on antenatal care (ANC) and skilled birth attendance (SBA) at sub-national levels in Ethiopia and Kenya. Utilising monthly HMIS data, we applied interrupted time series and counterfactual analyses, identifying hotspots through geospatial mapping at the sub-national level. Kenyan counties experienced varied ANC trends during the pandemic, with disruptions in SBA observed in two counties. In Ethiopia, ANC declined in the North but remained steady in the South, with SBA improvements in the South and unchanged conditions in the North. The study underscores the vulnerability of sub-national health systems to disruptions, emphasising the imperative to fortify healthcare systems and enhance data quality for effective response to future outbreaks and improved maternal and child health outcomes.