Health system resilience during COVID-19 understanding SRH service adaptation in North Kivu

Ho, Lara S, Bertone, Marie, Mansour, Wesam, Masaka, Cyprien and Kakesa, Jessica (2022) 'Health system resilience during COVID-19 understanding SRH service adaptation in North Kivu'. Reproductive Health, Vol 19, e135.

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Abstract

Background

There is often collateral damage to health systems during epidemics, affecting women and girls the most, with reduced access to non-outbreak related services, particularly in humanitarian settings. This rapid case study examines sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in the Democratic Republic of the Congo when the COVID-19 hit, towards the end of an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, and in a context of protracted insecurity.

Methods

This study draws on quantitative analysis of routine data from four health zones, a document review of policies and protocols, and 13 key-informant interviews with staff from the Ministry of Public Health, United Nations agencies, international and national non-governmental organizations, and civil society organizations.

Results

Utilization of SRH services decreased initially but recovered by August 2020. Significant fluctuations remained across areas, due to the end of free care once Ebola funding ceased, insecurity, number of COVID-19 cases, and funding levels. The response to COVID-19 was top-down, focused on infection and prevention control measures, with a lack of funding, technical expertise and overall momentum that characterized the EVD response. Communities and civil society did not play an active role for the planning of the COVID-19 response. While health zone and facility staff showed resilience, developing adaptations to maintain SRH provision, these adaptations were short-lived and inconsistent without external support and funding.

Conclusion

The EVD outbreak was an opportunity for health system strengthening that was not sustained during COVID-19. This had consequences for access to SRH services, with limited-resources available and deprioritization of SRH.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	WA Public Health > Health Administration and Organization > WA 525 General works WA Public Health > Health Administration and Organization > WA 546 Local Health Administration. Community Health Services WC Communicable Diseases > Virus Diseases > Viral Respiratory Tract Infections. Respirovirus Infections > WC 506 COVID-19
Faculty: Department:	Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-022-01443-5
Depositing User:	Daisy Byrne
Date Deposited:	10 Jun 2022 13:42
Last Modified:	29 Jun 2022 12:42
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/20477

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