Global study of MATernal health provision during COVID-19 pandemic with embedded case study of megamaternities in sub-Saharan Africa

This study has two research objectives:

1.To understand how maternal health professionals and health facilities prepare and respond to COVID-19 in regard to the care provided to women and their babies during antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care. We designed an online survey of health providers, and translated it into 12 languages. As of April 9th, we received over 800 responses. This survey will be composed of repeated rounds of online survey to track the situation, identify key research and action themes, and build a network of researchers.

2.To document and analyse the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the services available to pregnant, labouring and postpartum women and their newborns, including as a result of increasing pressures on the health system. We will do this by:
a) Developing an in-depth case study of several large referral hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa (agreed: Muhimbili in Dar es Salaam, LUTH in Lagos, Mulago in Kampala, Conakry Guinea in collaboration with our partner institute in Maferinyah).
b) Building a case study of postnatal care provision in Belgium.
c) Supporting ITM colleagues and partner institutions in developing other research lines where maternal health can be a case study using the online survey findings.
d) Generate rapid impact by analysing and disseminating our findings in order to guide the response efforts and contribute to maternal and newborn care availability and quality.