The effects of Covid-19 on maternal, newborn and child health services in Papua New Guinea

Bibliographic Data

ID15540726
AuthorsLisa Vallely (0000-0002-8247-7683, UNSW Sydney, corresponding author), Jamee Newland (0000-0003-3599-743X, UNSW Sydney), Nalisa Neuendorf (0000-0001-5104-890X, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Agnes Mek (0000-0002-2201-1144, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Rachael Farquhar (0000-0002-1915-1971, Burnet Institute), Zebedee Kerry (0000-0002-9421-8742, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Ruthy Boli‐Neo (Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Mikaela Seymour (0000-0002-7797-1361, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Melanie Wratten (0009-0008-3669-9323, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Herick Aeno (0000-0001-7373-541X, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Richard Naketrumb (0000-0002-0733-6426, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research), Anna Maalsen (Port Moresby General Hospital), Caroline Homer (0000-0002-7454-3011, Burnet Institute), Angela Kelly-Hanku (0000-0003-0152-2954, UNSW Sydney)
Year2024
Volume19
Issue1
Pages2421404-2421404
Publication date2024-11-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGlobal Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1744-1692 • E-ISSN: 1744-1706
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17441692.2024.2421404
PMID39541419
OpenAlexW4404370447
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited23

Papua New Guinea's health system faces ongoing challenges in the provision of maternal and child health and has some of the poorest health indicators in the world. In this paper, we describe the impact of COVID-19 on maternal and child health, as examples of primary health care services. We conducted 131 semi-structured interviews with different population groups in seven provinces (Jul-Nov 2021). A deductive analysis focused on identifying the impact of COVID-19 using the World Health Organization building blocks framework. An inductive analysis explored these impacts for maternal and child health services specifically. We identified three broad themes: service disruption, challenges in access to care and service provision. Service disruption included the closure, suspension and relocation of services and workforce challenges due to healthcare worker absences, redeployment and working within an already constrained health system. Access to care was difficult due to lockdowns and restricted movement. Service provision continued despite the fear staff had of COVID-19. Investing in pandemic preparedness, including an adequately trained and resourced healthcare workforce and facilities able to withstand sustained provision of essential services should be integrated with locally appropriate, and timely community-based information to allay fears and mistrust within the healthcare system

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Environmental health · Ethnology · Geography · Health services · Maternal health · New guinea · Outbreak · Pandemic · Population · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 · Sociology · COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Virology