The Experiences of Pregnant Women and their Healthcare Providers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria

Minika Ohioma¹, Roksana Behruzi1,Charo Rodriguez¹,  Kathleen Rice¹, Korede Durojaiye²

¹Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria.

Corresponding Author: Minika Ohioma, email minika.ohioma@mail.mcgill.ca 

Background

COVID-19 has affected several countries and has overstretched health care systems including those of low-income countries like Nigeria. Healthcare providers (HCP’s) are at increased risk of contracting the disease and even transmitting it to their families. They are also burdened with grief from watching patients, colleagues and loved ones die from the disease. However, even in the pandemic, much of everyday life still continues, including childbirth. UNICEF has estimated that there will be at least 100 million births worldwide during the pandemic. Of this number, Nigeria is expected to have up to 6.4 million births. Maternity HCP’s in Nigeria are therefore faced with management of pregnancies and births of possible COVID-19 positive women. During the pandemic, health policies have focused more on COVID-19, and provision of adequate perinatal care could be compromised resulting in potential adverse outcomes, including worsening the already high maternal mortality rate in Nigeria.

Objectives

The study objectives are 1) To determine the extent to which the recommendations based on WHO COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines have been implemented during perinatal care, 2) to describe the experience of pregnant women and their healthcare providers during the COVID-19 Pandemic and 3) to proffer solutions to the problems identified above.

Methods

Data will be collected using qualitative methods such as one‐on‐one, in‐depth, semi-structured interviews and participant observation.

Anticipated results

The pandemic may increase delays in accessing the required perinatal care. Women may avoid going to health care facilities for fear of getting infected and suspected COVID-19 positive pregnant women may be given sub-optimal care. HCP’s may experience increased levels of stress and other mental health issues. It is possible that strategies used during the pandemic which worked in other countries to ensure social distancing, such as telemedicine, may not be feasible in Nigeria. However, we may discover new strategies that are culturally acceptable and feasible in the Nigerian environment.

Implications

Findings from the study will address gaps in maternal health care delivery in Nigeria, particularly those that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic. This will help to improve the health outcomes of the mothers and the overall wellbeing of maternity HCP’s. These results will also generate evidence and knowledge for use in policy and practice at national and global levels.